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

Things must have changed. We qualified every year. When I was a ground radio operator at an overseas site, we had our own weapon and 125 rounds. If something happened, we were our own and only defense.

I served in Vietnam in the Air Force. I was a combat security and worked only during nighttime. Before I went to Vietnam, I was trained at Camp Bullis to be the infantry of the Air Force and was the second group to be trained this way. Now there are two units stationed at Fort Bragg that are trained as combat security forces. Every Air Force personnel should have been trained and qualified on the M- 16 in basic training. That is how it was in the old days of Air Force basic training. I don't know about today's training.

Same reason Army doesn't need to know how to load a nuke onto a B52. Each branch has its assigned area of responsibility in conflicts. If it came to to a case of being overrun most AF have the basic skill to point and shoot at an enemy. Lastly, if the Army is overrun and needs AF personnel to pick up an M16, we are probably to too busy launching Nukes

In the 20 years that I served in the Air Force we were sent to the gun range on base to qualify. I fired expert each year. While in Germany we had a gun range off the compound that we qualified at. This was in the mid 60's and we used the M1 carbine. Later we switched to the M14 then to the M16.

I retired out of the “Brown” AF in 08; RED HORSE Airborne Flight Superintendent. Because of our mission package, we had to be as good as, or better than, the USA/USMC elements we worked with in the Airfield Seizure mission. This included every “Infantry Skill” in the book, from small unit tactics to global secure communications. That being said, there are very few situations where the average Blue Suiter will ever pick up a weapon, unless a sister service Commander directs it. Having IT personnel constantly carry around an unloaded M-4 and one magazine for eight months on Bagram AB was simply uncalled for. If the possibility of ground attack is present, then by all means train them to standard and arm them. AFQC prior to deployment does not even come close. It is situational, and requires the CoC to have a realistic perspective on the mission and objectives PRIOR to deployment.

I was an Air Force Security Force during desert shield and storm. During my military tour all member of the Air Force had to qualify in basic combat weapons every year; to maintain there military position. I don't know if this has change during the passing time. But I differ that this has change; since all components of the Arm Forces are govern by a vision that's called; "Total Force Vision". DOD directives mandate that all members of the Arm Forces has to be combat ready 24/7. We still hold a record globally; are Total Force Vision has been successful from generation to generation. I recommend you to study more about are Total Force Concept; its very interest and how it has been so powerful in the national defense and global reach. So God help us to keep being the top Arm Forces of the world. Home of the Brave / In God we trust.

I believe that additional weapons training should be optional on AF or Joint installations. Going to Elite weapons training schools like Front Sight or Front Line should be optional for military members and should count as "extra curricular" achievements for those up for promotion.

The USAF is run by Pilots. To them, if it ain't flying, it ain't sh-t. Former USAF Security Police when we were the Bastards of the USAF. Now, thanks to the War On Terror, and the various Sand Boxes, I believe the Security Forces AFSC has more personnel than any other. I agree that everyone in the USAF needs to be taught the Warrior Spirit and maid to realize that there are no real Front Lines anymore, especially overseas you are always a target. Former Captain and Senior Special Agent in ICE. Nothing wrong with being taught some combat skills even as a 702.

The Air Force is one of our most expensive assets. It needs people of exceptional skill and intelligence, to keep everything running. The main fighting force of the Air Force is in the sky. We don't usually place our airbases and airfields where there is any likelihood of enemy interference.
Example: when I was in Iraq in 2003, the majority of our airmen were stationed in, took off from, and landed, in Kuwait or Saudi Arabia; there were airfields (that we took control of), which our airmen would land in, on occasion (supply, maintenance, fuel, but usually not extended grounding). Those are considered joint forces based, meaning that the Army (or Marines) were in control of and secured the base. When enemy engagements happened, the airmen would either get in the air, or hunker down. It was our job to protect them (and every other asset on basecamp).
The airmen that my unit was protecting, at various times, had weapons specialists, on board, as well as mechanics and pilots, as flight crew. The weapons specialist that I was privy to talk with, new about nearly every weapon system, had an M4, and a pistol, but much preferred his 50 Caliber machine gun (side door mounted). The weapons specialists seemed to take as much pride in knowing as many weapons systems as possible (much like us ground forces). He beat me, every time, when disassembling and reassembling the 50 Cal. He came very close to my time on the M4. His ability to break down, clean, and reassemble the 9mm, was better than even my platoon sergeant.
There are (few and far between) some airmen that can and do train with ground based weapons systems. However, if they have to use them, it is a VERY bad day.
It's much more important that they know how to get their aircraft in the air, and keep it there.

You have to remember, the original placement of air bases was far from the front lines. If the enemy comes knocking on the front door of an air base, then you have a serious problem.