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

As a teen I had .22 that looked like a M-1 Carbine. I shot that alot. When I went into the AF in 68 I qualiifed no problem. When I went to Thailand I was an Augmentee on the perimeter (all 3 tours, Udorn, and NKP) I was in two or three firefights and responded well. I knew I a had 120 rounds and stayed on semi. I actually liked security duty to my commo job. I liked being out in the open better.

I served 76-96 as a flightline maintenance fire control specialist then crosstrained to operational intelligence, shot expert with M-16 with periodic training, qualified with .38 then 9mm, also with periodic training...I did not experience what you describe

The main problem is usually money. When I was on active duty the annual small arms training allowance per sailor was minor. Most of it was used on fam firing aircrews, security police, special ops and the like. Most small arms ammo was shot by members of the various Naval Base Weapons Departments. They owned the guns, the ammunition, and in most cases the range.

Be serious! Do you really want a bunch of Zoomies running aroud with weapons?

Sounds like you want the Army Air Corp back. Simply put, the AF doesn't have Infantry, Air Cav, Cav and all the fun toys that the other services have and there is a reason for it. AF is a back shop, a support function, an air superiority asset not a slug it out on the ground force. As far as how many others than those in SF that can shoot, probably hit or miss depending on childhood experiences. The expectation for folks to be as familiar/proficient with the weapons systems as SF or other branches comes down to training. The other services spend as much time weapons training as we spent in the entirety of BMT and I'd bet the same rings true with the time spent by those that go through the SF Tech School. That said, you'd have to double the time spent in BMT with half of it spent on weapons to reach the level of proficiency of which you speak.

When we deployed to Desert Storm, Gen. Tilelli ,Who commanded 1st Cav Div ,issued an order I violated the SHIT out of.(OF course I won't say about THE REST of my platoon my crimes are my own )but I am a Gray wolf scout from the 80s Only women and people that can get caught never wore an inverted Gerber MkII on their Alice gear, or a pokey thing of some type,SOME fools used expensive weighty Buckmasters or NIGHTMARISHLY priced Crawford handmade knives( It made for an UNMERCIFUL ribbing when they lost it} BUT we fought with our knives DESPITE what the army said or trained ,THEN or now,because we hunted THEM and when we found them is was OUR asses face to face.
AND you don't use THOSE kinds of blades to open CANS.
I called that 'OL mafia override, because MINE will come home.
I respected all my cadre and tried not to be difficult, it worked sometimes too.
My platoon leader was a mustang ,THANK GOD.
THE ARMED forces will bury many soon if Korea kicks off THEN they will want ALL of theses things either by doctrine or on the side.
It's like they are going girly on killing because they think contractors will save them.
I suggest prone ,"DIME and barrel" drills DAILY .

I was in Vietnam during the war era. I qualified expert marksman with the M-1 Carbine during basic training in 1965. I stayed on my grandparents farm a lot as a kid and rifles and shotguns were always around. I bought a .22 cal single shot rifle when I was 14. It was very accurate. I could shoot .22 longs and long rifles but mostly just fired shorts. I never had an accident like hitting a farm animal. I have this rifle to this day along with my granddad's 12 guage shotgun . I arrived in Vietnam shortly after The Tet offensive of 1968. My duty section was 377th Cmbt Spt Grp Mail and Message Distribution Center located in 7th Air Force Hdqtrs Bldg. My duty hours were 2000 hrs - 0800 hrs for the 1 year tour of duty. We had racks filled with M-16 rifles and .38 S&W pistols inside file cabinets along with ammunition. We never carried arms unless on a specific mission where supervision determined the need for them. Such as carrying classified to the burn area and burning while others stood guard. Some times we pulled CQ Duty in the hut area (at night) using a small hut for shelter which was situated along the perimeter fence. We only had a pistol for defense. Thank goodness I never had to fire a shot, but I feel that I could hold my own.

as a retired air force mechanic, i can tell you it is probably better that most members are not issued weapons. though during the korean the chicken squadron abandoned their mechanics , flew off in their aircraft and the troops were hung from the hanger with safety wire. when i was osan they did issue weapons during exercises. don't know if the 51st still does this

I was in Air Force CCT for 10 years TACP 1.5years and we were trained on individual and crew served as well as explosives.

That's why I bought my sister a shoulder right and the extended 9mm mags for her issued Beretta. Though she doesn't carry an M4 she did qualify expert every three to six months when not deployed while stationed at Herbert Field. It all depends on your job and environment.