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

Yes I agree,,,every enlisted person should be combat trained or at least marginally aware if no chance of deployment

The Air Force thinks of itself more as a corporation than a military force. That needs to change. Warriors first, technicians and pilots second.

100 percent agree that every person in every branch of our ARMED FORCES need to be proficient in the use and handling of firearms.

I once knew a WW2 Army Air Corps vet who told me his story. He was stationed in the Philippeans when the war broke out. All of the Air Corps personnel down to the last man became an Infantryman. Their success in battle against the Japanese was impressive. Ultimately, they were so outnumbered they were forced to surrender. I am of the opinion that all uniformed personnel should have at least a minimum level of combat training. As a former Airborne Infantry officer... I may be a little biased I suppose.

They should be efficient with small arms as well. If an Air Force installation is being attacked/ over run. More small arms out there would make a major difference. The Army, and Marines aren't supermen. They do their jobs very well. In given situations. They may need help. The airmen aren't doing anything once their aircraft are gone. They should help defend the installation.

Some have said on here that there is no need for most Air Force personnel to be armed and know how to use a weapon. Here are some examples from history. Clark Airbase 1941 Most aircraft destroyed all personnel became infantrymen at that time the Air Corps was part of the Army so I believe they were trained on basic infantry tactics in Basic. Henderson Field Guadalcanal. Constantly attacked and while most of the aircrew and ground crew were Marines in the later stages there were Army pilots and ground crew and they had to defend the airfield. Tet 1968. All major airbases were attacked and many were penetrated All personnel had to defend themselves and equipment until security forces could seal the penetrations and eliminate the enemy forces. It can happen again

The Chair Force is not a ground combat force. We do not have the same basic mission as the army and Marine Corps. Which is to locate close with and destroy the enemy through fire and maneuver or close combat. Hey I'm thrilled to death you know how an M-4, M-16, & an M-9, function. However you DO NOT HAVE A CLUE on how to lead a squad of airmen effectively in a defensive wedge formation or even why the wedge and not echelon or linear formation. As a current TSgt in the AF as well a former Marine Corp Infantry Sergeant with combat experience I understand why we do what we do, and the Army/ Marine Corps does what they do. Not our mission.

Hell, what about just basic martial arts and self defense? We should be trained on this too, the Marines and Army provide actual hand to hand combat training to most of its personnel. That is also a thought

Honestly, I believe in the way the Marines do it, be a rifleman first job second. Being on active duty for 9 years I only shot CATM maybe like three times (Bmt, when I was trained as a SF augmentee, and before I pcs'd). It really bothers me that we can't be like the Army and Marines. Because Security Forces can't do it all. Of course, the military budget for the specific needs and requirements of the service answer this question. Hell, it baffles me that civilians who own AR's similar to our M4/M16's have more knowledge on a weapon we use to cause destruction to our enemies than our Airmen. A great need in my view. Let's say if an Airman is Pcs'd over on a GSU base in a foreign land like say England/UK where there is hardly a security force or a small detachment from a host nation country providing base defense. In where I was, you may have less than 8 to 10 Host nation base defense personnel and it wasn't enough to ensure base security/safety. Questions that always had you thinking what if shit hit the fan? What if we had a terrorist act or some random joe blow who is might be a protester or a random person and was to cross over the defenses? It was paramount that those on the base regardless of AFSC was proficient and trained on the M16. Unlike here in the states where likely that is to occur, but whether being stateside or overseas (if deployed or posted there) every Airman needs to be familiar and trained on the M16/M4. Because we can sit and be the chair force all day watching Youtube and completing CBTs in small arms training of the M16, but when it comes to actually applying knowledge on base defense, we need time to shoot it and be with the weapon. Less knowledge equals lives lost depending on how you look at the scenario and what an Airman might come across. You never know in todays world. Think about it

Army National Guard here, during hurricane Katrina, had an Air Force construction unit arrive, with NO weapons, to pull security. Took a couple of days for their weapons to arrive, while my people were pulling, short handed, 12 on, 12 offs.