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

Actually, except for a few specific MOS, we DON'T expect to ever have to pick up a weapon. I was never trained in weapons. The small amount of marching we do, to give another example, is only useful in Basic Training & Tech School. If you were going to be an SP (I think they've changed the name since I was in), you'd be trained in that, but we were NEVER meant to have to defend ourselves.

Most Airman will never see combat. Most of the AFSCs are not combat related. Now if you happen to get assigned to Hurlburt Field in Florida then your chances of combat duty increases.

But I've heard the same stories zbout other services. My personal favorite was the Army private who I had to help. The hapless private jammed a cleaning rod down the wrong end of a barrel of a M-16 at Camp Bullis where I was going through my combat training. As I remember, the private was from Fort Sam Huston and was training for the expert medic badge.

The reality here is the word "qualification." Air Force airman "qualify" on a weapon in basic training. Then, depending on their AFSC or deployment status, they may re-qualify on the M-9/M-4/M-16/AR-15 annually. Airmen are also authorized once a year to sign up for requalification and are issued a weapon and rounds to return to the range. (At least that was the way it was up until the time I retired in 1994.)

Now, if you fire expert in any given year, it used to be that three years could pass before it was mandatory. You earned a ribbon instead of a badge and the ribbon was permanent. In other services, like the Army and Marines, I understand that the badges may not be permanent and might be updated annually during weapons qualification.

I started my Air Force career as a security specialist in the Security Police career field in 1977. I was basically a light infantryman skilled at airbase ground defense. Later on, I would serve 24 months overseas and then deploy three times. In the first three months of my service, I fired with the M-16 three times for qualification and then annually afterward. I also earned expert on this weapon. I fired and qualified on the M-60 and the S&W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece twice. Eventually, I would qualify and fire the M-9 and now own three of them.

Having served in both the Army and the Air Force I’ll throw my two cents in. The Army viewed every member as having two MOS’s: my case I was 951(MP) but also a 111(rifleman). I could cite countless examples of where combat situations required cooks, clerk typists, medical personnel, payroll, etc to grab a weapon. The Battle of the Bulge, WWII, is a classic example of in which everyman grabbed an M-1 or M-2 or whatever was handy. The Air Force by it’s very nature is not relegated or expected to engage a ground enemy, exception are the Security Police. They are the closest airmen to riflemen the AF can field. As a training instructor (TI) basics I was made very aware of the AF attitude toward any sort of individual combat. In my mind this attitude went hand in glove with recruiting. In the Army we had our M-1 rifle racks in the middle of the barracks floor. In AF basic training the only time a basic recruit handles a rifle is for classroom orientation, dry fire, preparatory to the actual half day visit to the range. I remember qualifying with the pistol, along with a number of F-117 pilots. I had to qualify in order to carry my duty pistol, the pilots joked about qualifying with the pistol. Their attitude was, was the AF going to ground them from flying their F-117’s, if they couldn’t shoot a pistol. Moral is if you find yourself on a firing range with Air Force personnel, except SP’s and para rescue, get back 500 yards from the firing line.

Back in 1965 when I went to basic training (Air Force) we were trained on the M-1, the M-16 and the 45 auto. You had to qualify with the M-16 or do the course over. While in VN I stood night guard duty because there not enough police or army personel available, everybody did what needed to be done. It was our lives on the line. I'm glad we were trained on these weapons and think all Air Force personnel should have this training.

I was in the Air Force (1975-80). You are correct, most of us never were expected to carry guns. I wonder that the Navy members are not largely the same? We had weapons training for one or two days during basic; and when in Germany we were able to volunteer for training with a German weapon for one day. I wonder if the ignorance of the Air Force members with the weapons is as bad as you make out? I would not be proficient (as far as hitting targets) but I would know which way to point the weapon; how to hold it, load it and clear it; as I think most of other members. I would be surprised if they completely did away with weapons training in basic training for the Air Force?

I'll admit I was only at the range once every two years, but I was trained, and since we were a mobile unit and deployable, we had to at least qualify. I was reasonably proficient with both the M-16 and M-9.

The original plan was made when there front lines and a large distance between the fighting and the planes so no real issue. So I guess it is military is slow to change. If most airmen need a rifle the fit has hit the shan.

Sadly the writer makes a valid point. I retired from the military in 09, after 20 years of a active duty in the Army. At present I'm a PVT contractor for the DOD. I work on bases overseas, Al-Udied AFB in Qatar is one of those bases I've worked at. It is guarded by Airman, most who have not touched a rifle since Basic. Let alone Qualified with one recently. But yet here, they are doing Gate duty. with 9 MM on their Hip, and M-4 slung across there shoulder. I go in and out gate all day multiple times as my security Escort job requires it. I've SEEN IT ALL! Magazines falling out of weapons, (not properly seated) Weapons falling apart, people Just flat out walking away from their post leaving their weapon leaned against the shack or IN the shack cause there shift (2 hours) was over, ad they were in a big hurry to get out of the heat. It's Just disgraceful. And when I go inside the visitors shack to bring people on the base IF I see a problem I mention it to the SGT on duty, I usually get the same answer. "He's/She's NOT MY soldier. Even though she/he is the SGT of the guard for those 2 post. Apparently the Air force doesn't believe in General Military authority for NCO's to make on the spot corrections. It;s just Flipping SAD!!....and of course being a contractor, I am powerless to do anything about it.
Makes me ashamed of being a former NCO.... one that doesn't want to correct issues! Especially those types.

!!!ROTFLMBO!!! Being former Army, I've wondered that as well, especially in today's rapidly-changing roles & missions of the US Military that involve joint-branch missions and co-operations.