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

Only those of us in Rapid Deployment Wings were required to qualify every year. I grew up shooting guns and hunting, so it was no problem for me.

well in the Navy Seabees and when assigned to a battalion every time we are back at our homeport besides our rate training we spend two weeks of military training which includes a week at the range qualifying with our M16 and .45 and crew serve weapons

My service time was in the Navy, submarines, and we did not get a chance to shoot a weapon very often either. However, we carried a number and variety of hand weapons with us, and everyone was qualified to shoot a .45 pistol since they were carried on the deck watch. I guess that, in my view, if you are in the US Military, you should know how to use a weapon. If not, then why not simply use civilians to do the supply and admin work? Those who deploy, and all air crews should be trained in weapon usage also, in my estimation, or why are you designated as military? That is my opinion, and I am sure that many here will object to that idea, as many already have, but emergencies, that require the need for weapon usage arise all the time, and particularly now in this period of political upheaval!

Former reservist at McCord. We were doing a field exercise. I, the mobility NCO advised the Captain in charge that the way he was deploying his defensive perimeter they would be shooting each other and attempted to diagram a mutually supporting group of fire teams, crossing lanes of fire et al.
I was told to bugger off.
When the aggressors attacked lot's of MILES gear started beeping. The aggressors hadn't raised their weapons, or fired a shot.

only certain units with in the air force are required to be qualified on weapons use. all air force personal qualify in basic training. all flight crew, mp's/sp's, cct, af sec ops, and crew chiefs are required to qualify on weapons use in case of an attack. any air force base that has sensitive areas such as the flight line, hangers, runways, or command areas have heightened security and are contained with in a fence that's with in a fence with controlled access. personally I don't think there are enough weapons to hand out to all af personnel.

When I enlisted in 1988 we had a day at the range in BMT. Having grown up hunting it was easy for me. (I have no idea if the AF still does that or not.) Then I was fortunate enough to become an AMMO troop (IYAAYAS!) and we had to qualify annually with M16s, as we guarded our own munitions and special weapons movements, as well as the Bomb Dump itself.

I think every basic trainee should have at least the basics (no pun intended) of firearms safety and operation.

As everyone is saying not the mission of the USAF to have all qualified with weapons. Spent my career in munitions and civil engineering. Which had a armed requirement due to their missions. Being armed in the Air Force is dependent upon the mission being done.

Not everyone learn to qualify for M16 only the people in MP school.

We had a saying when I was in - "Better have it and not need it than need it and not have it." One of my biggest fears was running out of ammo in a tight spot, "BANG! BANG! BANG! - click." "OOPS!" I always scrounged as much ammo as I could. Heavy, yeah, but it was nice to be alive to carry it.

I think that's the same with weapons training in all branches. Personnel in all branches - and I think the branches would benefit from at least familiarization with the major personal weapons system, be it M-16, M-4 or whatever new weapon DoD acquires. Back right after Vietnam the Army did away with bayonet training for awhile. We were told we were not likely ever to need it and if we did things would have gotten so bad it would probably not matter. A few years later they realized their mistake and re-instated it. I remember one brass hat saying there was something to the "spirit of the bayonet." I agreed then and still do - I think the parallel applies.

BTW: I had two younger brothers and a son join the Navy - all three were disappointed they didn't receive at least SOME type of weapons training in their Boot Camp. One of my brothers and son both volunteered for security duty that allowed them to carry arms and train with same. Again, better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

To be a rifleman, you have to concentrate on rifle-consciousness. That's why Marines carry them around all through training, clean them every night and spend two weeks learning to fire them. Air Force members simply have a lot of other things to learn. If they need to learn about firearms they will be taught. Meanwhile, I don't see a lot of enemy troops getting to an airbase past the A-10s, F-16s and Raptors . . .