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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In the 80's, I was sent from Bragg to the pentagon TDY. From the Pentagon, a small team of us, including a young Navy type was sent to El Salvador to provide some training. One night while in the southern part of the country a host country training base was hit by the bad guys. Our site was removed from that site but you could hear some of the explosions in the distance and we quickly set up on the perimeter. I was stuck in one position with the navy guy. Real nice guy, proficient in his specialty, and very smart, but no idea about how to use an M-16. I did what I could in a few seconds not knowing if we would be hit. I locked and loaded for him, placed it in safe mode and told him where to aim. I stressed not to open fire until he heard from me as there were friendlies walking the perimeter. Anyway, a long winded way to say you just never know when danger will head your way, especially these days I thank God we were not hit and would have felt better if this kid had received some minimal training. It wasn't his fault, just the system
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What AFSCs are issued weapons besides the police and various aircrew and pararescue?
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Sad thing is, after I retired I got an M4 style 5.56 rifle and have shot more rounds in the last few months than I did in 24 years in the Air Force. I was an avid hunter and a good shot (made Expert although I never turned it in to the personnel office because I didn't want to have to add another damn ribbon to my rack). I would have loved to have practiced more with the M-16. Lord knows I was a good shot with my 30-30 and 22LR.
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I served 3.5 years in the Army 69 -73. Got out and came back into the ANG Mech in 89 and discovered I had gotten to soft to be a grunt. I was ready to throw in the towel when an AFRES recruiter enticed me. I switched to Air Force. Compared to mechanized infantry it was like a vacation on week-ends' I can best describe the Air Force as "Kind of Military!" I did enjoy 17 years in the Air Force 605/2T2 and worked with a lot of great Airmen. Uh or is it AirPeople? I never was politically correct nor did I ever mean to be insulting. A WAC is a WAC, a WAV a WAV and God Bless the Donut Dollies.
All that being said I was a LRRP, an Aero Scout in OH6As. I worked and or trained with Rangers, Seals, SF. I do believe the most amazing men I ever worked with were the air Force Green Foot para-rescue.
Like I said the Air
force is "mostly" kind of military so AirPeople mostly are not down for a real fire fight.
All that being said I was a LRRP, an Aero Scout in OH6As. I worked and or trained with Rangers, Seals, SF. I do believe the most amazing men I ever worked with were the air Force Green Foot para-rescue.
Like I said the Air
force is "mostly" kind of military so AirPeople mostly are not down for a real fire fight.
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What does the term "Armed Forces" really mean? While I was in I was pleased to spend time on the range with any of a number of weapons. My QRF assigned weapon was the wonderful M-60 (I qualified with this weapon.) We should all have a basic understanding of at least one side arm and one long gun. Training and re-qual should occur on at least a semi-annual basis - no exceptions.
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TSgt (Join to see)
What does the term "Armed Forces" really mean?
It means you don't carry a rifle into the clinic, the chow hall, the dorms, or anywhere else other than the rifle range, and then only once a year. In the Air Force, I mean.
It means you don't carry a rifle into the clinic, the chow hall, the dorms, or anywhere else other than the rifle range, and then only once a year. In the Air Force, I mean.
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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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