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

Why are so many members of the Army clueless when it comes to the proper use of air and space power? This was the reason the Air Force was established as a separate service in 1947 and the Space Force was established as a separate force in 2019 The army's fantasies about the infantryman and his rifle have caused American to lose counterinsurgency wars in Vietnam as well as Afghanistan and Iraq according to Army Lt. General Daniel P. Bolger's 2014 book entitled Why We Lost: A General's inside account of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

I don’t remember the amount of time they spent training me but I see fire expert on the 38 caliber pistol 45 caliber pistol in the A.R. 15 rifle. Years later it occurred to me than all the times that I had fired those guns I’ve never boys been shown how to assemble disassemble or clean any of them. As an air crewmember I took them into combat and when I return to the ground I turned them back in and somebody else did all the maintenance. When I was On a special assignment attached to the Marines it never occurred to me that I wasn’t skilled in maintaining the gun like they all were. I knew at least felt they had their doubts about my ability if we were we got into trouble but no one ever said anything to me. On the other hand I spent more than a year in training as an aircraft mechanic before I ever reached my first airbase and my first real airplane. I think each service takes a careful look at the probability of the skills each person will need in their career and choose carefully how much time to train them on each part of those skills. Navy submariner is very unlikely define himself in a firefight an Air Force aircraft mechanic might find himself in such a situation but it’s not too likely a marine truck driver is very likely in the Amount of time training those three people for that situation in my opinion should be significantly different.

Sgt Christ, thank you for your service and dedication.
So you already know that not all members have to be qualified that's because not all AF members are in combat ready units. Some units are deployable and some are not.
If you think that the AF needs to change something why don't you contact your Command Chief and pass the suggestion on up the ladder.

Granted the USAF was never intended to be a ground fighting unit, but as everyone knows, stuff happens. For the same reason I carry a weapon concelled in civilian life, it is prudent to be prepared in the military also. As far as the enemy is concerned you are a "solider" even though your country does not classify you as such. A phone call away is too far, too late.

How to Tell the Difference Between the Branches of the US Armed Forces!

How to Tell the Difference Between the Branches of the US Armed Forces!

If you give the command "SECURE THE BUILDING", here is what the different services would do:

The NAVY would turn out the lights and lock the doors.

The ARMY would surround the building with defensive fortifications, tanks, and concertina wire.

The MARINE CORPS would assault the building, using overlapping fields of fire from all appropriate points on the perimeter.

The AIR FORCE would take out a three-year lease with an option to buy the building.

If your talking about being backed to defending our own soil, I'd want my grandmother to be fully qualified. Our country is demanding we give up our weapons and Grandma is pretty good with an iron skillet! I don't think our safety in the climate of the world today should be based on money. Cross training is possible even though I certainly couldn't fly a plane.

I was prior army when I joined the af. first time had to gualify with the m-16 the instructor saw me break down the m-16 he asked if I knew how to put together again. I did and qualified expert.

Airforce SF is not the same as Army or Marine infantry. You are basically an MP.

They should learn how to use any weapon all the military is using.

When I was in both active and reserve Air Force, we were required to qualify with live ammo on riffle range with m-16. Then after finished on range, we had to clean our weapon to the satisfaction of the armory instructor. Just as you would in real world. I can't speak for last few years but have heard when AF people help other get stuff mowed, they were armed. Also was in Coast Guard Reserve for six years. We had to qualify and had to use our pistols and ammunition, no government support.