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

If anyone wishes to be in our US Armed Forces can't work with firearms they should be deported to some other country! I'm an Enlisted Army Infantryman 1969 in Vietnam, Disabled, but still willing to fight all DOMESTIC & FOREIGN ENEMY! That would be MSM, Deep State, Democrat, Republican, Commie, Islamic, Anti-American SOB in my Nation!

I was 42153 (AGE) back in the 60's. I qualified annually, M-16 and/or M-1 Garrand. In 'Nam, at Bien Hoa, our 1st CO,would allow us to sign out a M-16 & 10 rounds, to preform our NF-2 Lite-all maint. on the base perimeter, during 18:00-06:00 hrs. We had to turn the weapon & 10 rounds in every AM. After the 1st. CO left, our new CO stopped the practice. Then we went on the perimeter with a hammer and a flash light.

Back in the 1990s the US AIR FORCE “Recruiting Slogan” was “AIR FORCE: A GREAT WAY OF LIFE”...and THEY MEANT IT!

That's not how or why the Air Force started out or is in their culture. When was the last time an Airbase actually got overran? Not saying it cant happen. Look at Afghanistan, where some of our soldiers were killed in office buildings by Afghan security forces. You the Air Force train more? Possibly never can go wrong. However, ive served in the Air Force and now im in the Navy. Neither one were ever meant to be frontline rifle or what not. If that is the case that why we an Army and Marines.

What? And get my nails dirty?
That was in jest!
For the record, I was in the army infantry for 6 years before going over to the Air Force. When I was in Iraq we needed to use our weapons and I was dismayed to see the lack of weapon discipline. With the current wars there really are no rear echelon areas any more, and I do think the air force should training ALL Airmen to handle weapons comfortably.

Remember, the Air Force is the "kinder, gentler Armed Service" ;)

Sounds like you should have joined the Army or Marines.

Don't they all just jump in their jets and attack? Yes, everyone in every billet should be able to become a Rifleman (Riflelady?) if necessary. This is because while we can anticipate what could happen at any given moment we don't actually know until it has happened. You can postulate all you want but if there's some catastrophic, unforeseen event that alters the consistency of our force structure we'd better be ready to shift gears. This country has not had to fight a war for its general survival in quite some time. I think people lose sight of that and then we get somewhat compartmentalized. There are certainly other tasks that should be learned in addition to operating weapons.

I was qualified as were all my fellow basic training members in 1972 with an m-16. We were given 10 rounds to train with then50 rounds to qualify. When I got to my final base, F E Warren I was allowed to qualify with a pistol. It was associated with my MOS and the control of top secret crypto materials. Yi did not carry a weapon while operating as a Missile Tech but we always had a security police airman with us while in the field. He carried an M-16. We carried tools. He guarded the silo topside, we repaired the nuclear missile in the silo. Now I think we have forgotten a very important group of airmen who hat were experts in riflemanship as well as jungle warfare and enemy evasion. Those special force Airmen were the ParaRescue. They operated in every environment there is and are respected by all branches of the service. They hung from a jungle buster with a rifle around their neck and a first aid kit with survival gear on his back. They are recognized for many heroic actions. I know one of those guys and can tell you he was a wonderful man humble and proud but haunted by memories from Vietnam. He was promoted and retired as a Warrant Officer from F E Warren in the late 1970's. He finished up his career as overseeing the helicopter maintenance group at Warren his name was Grover. He passed away a few years ago. He was liked by many of his brethren and respected by all. So when we discuss the Air Force and their usage and expertise of weapons, let's remember we have some of the very best riflemen in the US Military.

So do the other branches train cooks and office personnel the way they do infantry? Like regular weapons qualifications? I’ve always wondered the same....why USAF Troops never touch a weapon after bootcamp unless they’re Security.