Posted on May 28, 2015
Why don't all members of the Air Force have to be fully qualified to be a rifleman in case of hostile events?
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I have noticed through the years of being in the Air Force (Security Forces member here) that most people in the Air Force are clueless when it comes to M-4/M-16/M-9. This is outrageous! What are they supposed to do if the enemy comes knocking on our door step and everyone needs to fight. I have taught classes on the M-4 with communication airmen and have seen them completely mess up clearing out the weapon, loading it (magazine upside down or rounds the wrong way), and just completely incapable of achieving a zero on target after four rounds of firing. I am a big fan of how the Army and Marines teach that your are always a rifleman first. It almost seems like some of the Airmen don't expect to carry a weapon (ummmm why did you join the military in the first place)? I wish the Air Force would pick up on this to make us a more combat ready force. But, enough of me what are your thoughts?
Rifleman
3P: Security Forces
Air Force
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 907
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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.
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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.
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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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My leadership class project addressed this exact issue back in the 90's. Although our fellow Reservists were supposed to qualify every three years, the average maintenance airman had not done so for eight. Although they individually felt confidence in their own abilities, several expressed more concern about fellow troopers than a potential enemy.
Although airmen aren't expected to withstand a protracted siege, we should at least be able to "hold the fort until the cavalry arrives".
Although airmen aren't expected to withstand a protracted siege, we should at least be able to "hold the fort until the cavalry arrives".
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SSgt James Tadlock
I went into the latrine late one night and a rocket hit the flight line. I just stayed inside the latrine until it all passed over.
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Is this a new thing that other specialties are not being trained to use a weapon? When I was in there were times that I was at the range teaching others how to use different types of weapons. I also was security/ law enforcement forces. I spent a lot of time on the range because of the number of weapons that I was qualified on so I was training others on techniques of cleaning and stripping it down to put it back together. If they have stopped this then they have made a mistake it is good for all members to know how to handle a weapon.
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