Why don't all members of the Air Force have to be fully qualified to be a rifleman in case of hostile events?

I was in the Air Force during Vietnam. Not only did we receive training with the M-2 and the M-16, I made expert with the M-16 and was highly proficient with a .38 caliber Sub Nose. Every crew member on a B-52 had a .38 with him and knew how to use it. In basic we even saw some training with a 50 caliber machine gun. What has changed?

That might be true NOW but in 1968 I was trained and fired the AR-15 to qualify alone with the colt 45...When I was ordered to VN I first went to Northern Cally for more weapons training ...My MOS was POL...I do agree that each man should be a rifleman first if your in the military !!!

Absolutely true war story: OIF, 2003 - I was the Logistics Officer for Marine Air Control Group 38, stationed at Al Jabber Air Base in Kuwait. As the offensive was winding down, USAF units stationed there began moving forward to Talil in Iraq. Shortly after this began, I received a call from the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing Logistics Operations Officer, asking if any of our units had any "extra machine guns". Since we had exactly what we rated, I laughed "No! Who the hell thinks we might have 'extra'?" He replied that the USAF wants to arm their convoys, and since they don't have any weapons...not even rifles...(except for the Security Forces stationed there), that they were asking around. IDK if they ever got any machine guns.

Flash forward to 2010 at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan. I saw a USAF SSgt struggling with unloading his and showing clear before he went into the chow hall. He seemed to not have the first clue how to operate the pistol. Add to that the fact that he was trying to hold a water bottle at the same time, and I had to step in. He refused my help, and I moved on, hoping that any negligent discharge wouldn't wind up hurting someone.

A bit of a sad testimony when our members of our Armed Services don't know how to operate those arms.

The Air Force never learned the lesson of Vietnam when Air Bases routinely over run. Every member of the Military should be full qualified with a personal weapon. Intent of a Branch mission is one thing. Reality on the ground is a separate reality.

I think you are spot on with your assessment of the AF's weapons training and qualification. Once your aircraft is shot down its you and the enemy and your service pistol. Same goes for a forward operations area that is suddenly over run by the enemy. You get up you grab your rifle and ammunition and you go fight the enemy.
My son's a Capt. Flying KC-10's and he was taught at home by his G.I. Daddy to shoot with a single shot Winchester .22 and then the Colt 1911 and the M16A1 Rifle and later the Beretta and the M16A2 Colt Rifle. He has been asked to be on an AF pistol marksmanship team but with his ops tempo where it is, he has no time right now to do that.

Marksmanship begins in the home.

Because the Air Force is a country club with Marines on the outer perimeter to protect them? Sorry, couldn't resist..... but you left the door open.

The Air Force spend their money on creature comforts like great food in their DFAC, cable TV in every barracks room, 4 star hotels while on TDY. I doubt they care about spending money on ammo. They don't even have a serious PT program, do they?

To be fair with my AFSC the running joke is if we have a weapon, everyone else on base is dead and we're fucked anyway.

Why? Probably for the same reason Security Forces or Hospital personnel don't go out and wrench on aircraft. Airpower is about taking the fight to the enemy's center of gravity, shutting down their ability to prosecute their plans by destroying the means to that end. Everyone has a role to perform to that end.

I don't have time to fight the enemy. I need to get this damn Aircraft off the ground and out of here. That's what the Army and Security forces are for. Give me enough time to get that bird in the air and out of here. After that, I can pull a trigger, but do you really want me to? I might see that 16 once a year.