Posted on May 28, 2015
Why don't all members of the Air Force have to be fully qualified to be a rifleman in case of hostile events?
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I have noticed through the years of being in the Air Force (Security Forces member here) that most people in the Air Force are clueless when it comes to M-4/M-16/M-9. This is outrageous! What are they supposed to do if the enemy comes knocking on our door step and everyone needs to fight. I have taught classes on the M-4 with communication airmen and have seen them completely mess up clearing out the weapon, loading it (magazine upside down or rounds the wrong way), and just completely incapable of achieving a zero on target after four rounds of firing. I am a big fan of how the Army and Marines teach that your are always a rifleman first. It almost seems like some of the Airmen don't expect to carry a weapon (ummmm why did you join the military in the first place)? I wish the Air Force would pick up on this to make us a more combat ready force. But, enough of me what are your thoughts?
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 914
If the Air Force is having to worry about ground combat for the average airman, we have *much* larger issues on hand.
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Its just a bad idea for many reasons. It sounds good in a perfect scenario kind of way, but in real life it would never work out.
First, let's say that everyone in the USAF was qualified to use a service pistol or rifle. Where would all of this equipment be? Does every office have an armorer inside an armory just sitting there all day waiting for a scenario to dispense weapons? Does every service member have to have a service weapon on them at all times? Where do these weapons go when they are carrying out their actual duties? It would seem knowing how to minimally operate and clean a weapon would be of no use unless there was access to them.
Now let's get to the training. Do you really believe that just knowing how to properly load a weapon, clean it, and perhaps shoot a paper close by is enough training to engage a real person whether its a terrorist or active shooter? So, they would also have to be trained to be able to identify the actual threat, remember now that everyone in uniform is running around with a weapon, and engage the person without hitting anyone else nearby or behind.
There is just such a narrow possibility that the bad guys are going to be obvious to people that have no training other than the operation of the weapon.
So now we're training everybody on how to operate, clean, and shoot a weapon and also training everyone on target identification, different scenarios of shoot, dont shoot. Plus many more things.
Now you have to do all of this multiple times a year because those skills degrade quickly. There also has to be multiple armories all over the base with armorers ready to issue weapons and ammo in a chaotic situation, unless everyone is already armed. Couldnyou ever see anything wrong with that scenario?
Now what happens when a bunch of people can't qualify in those situations? Do we kick them out, hold them until they can, or just give them a weapon anyway?
There are so many scenarios where something goes really wrong here.
That is not even mentioning the cost of money and time that this would take away from their everyday duties.
Instead, we can have people that are qualified and do that job all of the time with the training and skills to accomplish that mission.
First, let's say that everyone in the USAF was qualified to use a service pistol or rifle. Where would all of this equipment be? Does every office have an armorer inside an armory just sitting there all day waiting for a scenario to dispense weapons? Does every service member have to have a service weapon on them at all times? Where do these weapons go when they are carrying out their actual duties? It would seem knowing how to minimally operate and clean a weapon would be of no use unless there was access to them.
Now let's get to the training. Do you really believe that just knowing how to properly load a weapon, clean it, and perhaps shoot a paper close by is enough training to engage a real person whether its a terrorist or active shooter? So, they would also have to be trained to be able to identify the actual threat, remember now that everyone in uniform is running around with a weapon, and engage the person without hitting anyone else nearby or behind.
There is just such a narrow possibility that the bad guys are going to be obvious to people that have no training other than the operation of the weapon.
So now we're training everybody on how to operate, clean, and shoot a weapon and also training everyone on target identification, different scenarios of shoot, dont shoot. Plus many more things.
Now you have to do all of this multiple times a year because those skills degrade quickly. There also has to be multiple armories all over the base with armorers ready to issue weapons and ammo in a chaotic situation, unless everyone is already armed. Couldnyou ever see anything wrong with that scenario?
Now what happens when a bunch of people can't qualify in those situations? Do we kick them out, hold them until they can, or just give them a weapon anyway?
There are so many scenarios where something goes really wrong here.
That is not even mentioning the cost of money and time that this would take away from their everyday duties.
Instead, we can have people that are qualified and do that job all of the time with the training and skills to accomplish that mission.
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I am of the school that says you must be ready to defend yourself. This nonsense of not being able to use a current personal defense weapon (M16, M4, or M9) is silly.
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The Air Force has a few other gun toters besides SF. There is TACP, Combat Controllers, etc.
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The Air Force is about flying and fixing aircraft period. Everything else is in support of that mission. Space Command is still about the same, but at higher altitudes.
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I served in the US Marine Corps. It did no matter what your MOS was. You had to know and qualify with the M16. Its noit just the Air Force, so in the Navy they don't have to train or qualify with the rifle either in Boot Camp. I do believe that all the branches should train and annually qualify. Its part of being a military personnel, to have the proficiency of handling the most basic weapon of any armed forces.
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Cause the airforce is more a corporation then a military branch. I know of one airman thst developed PtSD from the mear thought of being deployed
I agree ever preson in the airforce from. E-1 to the head general. Should be able and knowledgeable enough to pick up a m4 and defend themselves if needed. Especially with insider attacks. They also need to get use to living in tents without wifi and AC.
I agree ever preson in the airforce from. E-1 to the head general. Should be able and knowledgeable enough to pick up a m4 and defend themselves if needed. Especially with insider attacks. They also need to get use to living in tents without wifi and AC.
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They are not geared for a ground combat force, only a reactive force for airbase security. I always hated going to an AF facility as they wanted me to unload and give up my sidearm to enter the AF Exchanges. (PX). This in a combat zone. Never did. Just hide it under my BDU blouse. We flew in BDU's in the early days in VN. The 38 wasn't much protection but when a way from un UH-1 and the M-60's it was a little security.
At least the Army trained me how to use both the AR and the handgun.
At least the Army trained me how to use both the AR and the handgun.
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We were having a fifties SyFy party. One of our regular "blooper experts" made much of the base guards wearing Army fatigues and not AP jumpers. I think this shakes his case. ;-)
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