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 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 914
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So who in the AIR FORCE wears red jackets and big gray gloves no wonder they can't load M16 the correct way anymore. LAMO!
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Unfortunately too many seem to fit your assessment of never needing to fire a weapon. Personally, would have loved to be able to keep a M-16/M-4/M-9 handy. Although scary, was kind of funny watching clueless ones trying to figure simple procedures on them when I was in.
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As a USAF VET I first qualified in basic. Then more during PJ training. The Air Force has several units that are combat trained to fight. These units stay in the shadows and are not very well known. Like it was said the Air Forces job is not o be a ground fighting force!
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Weapons training was mainly for those deploying. I agree the Air Force needs to rethink that policy. Attacks can happen anywhere even in CONUS!
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To the colonel I would like to say that the army aviation side of the house has to fix and fuel and arm aircraft as part of there mission and we still qualify yearly on our individual weapons and as crew serve weapons Gunners but some how we are able to do that while maintaining a high flight ops tempo. And the Marines do the same. Maybe the air Force doesn't put enough trust in it's people thinking that can't retain enough training to do more than just aircraft related duties
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I flew with several aeromedical evacuation squadrons during my 30 year Air Force and Army carrier. We received formal live-fire training once a year and the so-called "Just in Time" training prior to each deployment. Once in country we were assigned an M16 and either a 30 cal or 9mm handgun. We would be issued the weapon (usually the handgun) prior to each trip downrange and returned it to the armory upon RTB. We were also aware that Marines and Army personnel would not always be available to provide security if stationed down range and that we would have to do it ourselves. Yes, in spite of the Geneva Convention's policy of unarmed medics. Being a reserve unit more than a few of our medics were full time law enforcement and more than familiar with the use of firearms. So, I would say it all depends on which Air Force unit you're assigned to.
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You are absolutely right. I have heard some say that the govt wants to save on weapons and ammunition. In Vietnam we had enough m-16s and ammunition but no training on the weapon prior to leaving the states. We also had S&W .38 cal pistols which we carried whenever we were burning classified. There would be suspected VC locked in cages around the area. It woulda been hell if we were ever shot at. We probably would all been killed. But I will say that Air Force Security did a good job protecting the base during TET offensive 1968. And there were others who assisted. Over 1000 VC were killed.
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Everything comes at a cost. What are you willing to exchange for the time needed to make airmen proficient?
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So it's one or the other for USAF. If you deploy, you must qual with either the m4 or the m9, usually the former. Beyond that, however, security forces handles the security, and there would never be a reason at home station for anyone else to arm up. Members of arming group A (SF, AFSOC, and certain Supply folks) receive training annually, plus whatever their unit's OI requires.
In extremely rare cases, certain personnel may be short notice deployed (inside of 72 hours) and dont get to attend their class. This is EXTREMELY rare, and only done in cases where they will be surrounded by other armed personnel.
In extremely rare cases, certain personnel may be short notice deployed (inside of 72 hours) and dont get to attend their class. This is EXTREMELY rare, and only done in cases where they will be surrounded by other armed personnel.
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Everyone should at least have had FAMFIRE (Familiarization Fire) on the M-4 and M-9 even if they never carry or need to use one. On my first Iraq tour with a Marine Civil Affairs Group I got to fire an AK-47 as well as throw several live M67 grenades during our pre-deployment training. I've shot guns all my life so weapons use/handling is second nature.
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