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

Allow me to share my opinion from the Navy, when we went to boot camp all we did was the 9mm and the shotgun, no rifle though. Then once I got out to the Fleet I was told by one of my supervisors that because of my rate as Damage Controlman that basically we would never need that type of training. I was kinda surprised but I looked for my own rationalization and came up with this idea, That my job of fire fighting, CBRN, flooding and other bits of repair to the ship where gonna happen when others where fighting. So while other people where doing the war fighting I would be having to put out the fires, fixing the holes, helping with first aid, keeping the ship afloat while they where dealing with the threat.

A prime example was when my ship was doing anti-pirate opps while the VBSS (Visit Board Search & Seizure) team was out doing the inspection I was on the flight deck team helping refuel the helicopter that was providing air support.

So I would put it like this, while other Airman are the fighting force, other would have to engage in support of them, like loading bombs on planes, fueling fighters jets, sitting in radar control rooms directing air traffic, relaying critical info etc.

I hope this helps or at lest explains how some people got there.

Not everyone one can fight, but they can support the fight in their own way.

Having been a ship’s weapons officer, an NAG on PBRs in Vietnam, and Ops Officer, Nuke Weaps Security amongst other opportunities to express my manhood with everything from a .38 to M79, Ma Deuce, the mini, and 3”/50s, the Navy requirement for being qualed on a particular weapon is determined by the billet assigned. A certain type of shipboard response team is required to qual with specific weapons. Then there are the CBs, PhibCBs, ACU, IUW, of course SpecWar and the list goes on. However there is no requirement for every sailor to stay qual’d with any particular weapon. If one considers a ship with hundreds (thousands for the biggies) of sailors who serve in billets ranging from papers, to engines, to electronics, weapons (mostly much bigger than any .50 cal—think missiles ) and cooking to summarize a few, and also wants all required to stay current with a .45, 9MM, or the rifle of the day, that person just isn’t in touch with reality.

On the other hand there was an NBC Whitepaper Report (decades ago) which looked at the training of the DOD reserve components and NG units. One particular part of the report showed Navy Reserve units having the w/e drills of “firearms training”. The training was all about finding some place to shoot and borrowing weapons from somebody’s armory. A grand time was had by all. Everyone got to shoot. However nearly all never did the other more important part of the training—breaking down, servicing the weapon and learning how to effectively use the type weapon in hand. That NBC report did a lot of good. The hammer came down throughout the Naval Reserve (and the other components) and funding and other assets slowly started to bring us back into battery.

It’s one thing to know how to load a clip, slip it into the weapon, chamber a round, point the weapon and pull the trigger, it’s entirely a different thing to include its proper maintenance and drilling in its effective use. The latter takes time and energy. Time and energy away from mission essential specific training and fulfilling the plethora of requirements for advancement for a sailor.

Any sailor who wants to learn about a weapon can find ways to do so. But, if anyone thinks sailors (enlisted/officer) on bases and ships should walk around with pistols and holsters or have easy access to them, there are funny farms waiting.

The above addresses Navy stuff because that’s what I know. However my father and father in law were both WWII and Korea aircrews. Both were gunners who thought easy access was dangerous and only billet requirements should determine access and use of small arms. They and I well knew the incidents of accidental discharges resulting in fatalities or disabling injuries when small arms are not tightly controlled.

When I was in the AF our mission was then the world is now. When I went through basic we received one day with m16 for familiarization and one day on the range. There was never any direct instruction on weapons or the finer details of shooting. Like SMSgt Merich said the AF has always used an assigned detatchment.

I feel like this is a trap...but I’ll answer anyway. Because they basically work at an airport.

Fly boys and firearms? Sounds like a unlikely and slightly dangerous combination. There would a rash of blue on blue incidents. Lol

The Navy is the same way as the Air Force. Although we dont prioritize rifle training becasue its not the mission of the sailors, we are all trained in the Colt .45 cal 1911 in boot camp and some in the shotgun once we get to the fleet. But mostly we are trained in our specific job ratings along with our assigned shipboard battle stations during any combat at sea.

what will they do if they are overrun or there are turncoats. They need to be able to perform basic soldiers er tasks

A shame, they have the best uniforms, They didn’t have a clue in Vietnam. I guess it is tradition. I remember in Korea in 1964 the entire 7th Infantry Division would do a five mile rifle and pack every Wednesday evening after chow. When you got used to it, it became easy

I completely agree with you. A Warfighter is a Warfighter. I believe that these Warfighters must have a more than basic knowledge of small arms (to include the M16/M4 rifles) and be proficiently qualified to use them. Some of the answers I read give me the impression that such skills are beneath the Air Force and they have no time for it with statements such as the Army or Marines are tasked with facility security. Anywhere I’ve been to, regardless if I’m in the rear or forward deployed in theater, there has been an accessible training range. In the end we are all responsible for our own lives and even Airmen have the right to the knowledge that may save their them. In just over half a century the US Air Force has fallen far away from its roots in the Army Air Corps and The US Army. Unit Commanders should have the facilities and materials to train their personnel in firearm proficiency.

CPO here, long out of the Reserves, after a total of 26 1/2, 8 1/2 being Active Duty. My very first PCS orders were to the "Naval Air Facility, Cam Ranh Bay, Republic of Vietnam" where, though independent, we were still technically a tenant command of Cam Ranh Bay AF Base. We were in their outermost perimeter, across the (shared) runways. Before being deployed to the (very hot) War Zone, even if in a somewhat "cooler' area, besides having to go through SERE School, [in case of needing to evade capture, or being a POW] we spent a week at Camp Pendleton, with a few Coasties mixed in, who were going too. We had to qualify with the M-16, the .45 pistol, and at least fire the 50 caliber machine gun. To give us confidence in what fire you can lay down, we did night firing, on static vehicle targets, 20 men at a time, with magazines of "all tracers". We lit up California's night sky! Upon arrival, as part of my 'check in' I had to repeat the "qualification" on M-16, .45, and 50 cal, to be issued my "gun card". When standing armed watches, at night, by duty section, your "gun card" was used to check out an M-16, a bet of pouches with magazines, preloaded, and a (primitive) "starlight scope". I can't speak for how the AF treated security, but just before I arrived, they had had one major ammo dump "blown away" by the VC/NVA, no matter how "protected" our area was supposed to be. We were drawing "hazardous duty pay" for a reason. In later years, I never had to qualify with personal weapons UNTIL I pulled a three months rotation of "Security Police" duty at NAS Key West, as a PO1. Just before leaving AD. My 'going away present", though they didn't KNOW I was not "reuping" again. Same-oh-same-oh, without the 50 cal machine gun, but WITH the 12 gauge "riot" shotgun. Which you had to shoot 'from the hip'. Others were blowing holes in the coral, or cutting the tops out of mangrove trees. Old country boy here, I cut all three "man" targets in half, at the belt buckle line. Even 'Guns", who ran the range, was impressed. So I saw both sides. Yes, most of the time the AF isn't "up close and personal" with an enemy using those kinds of weapons. The Navy is usually more concerned about torpedoes and such, than 7.62 or 5.56 ammo. BUT that said, EVERY rule has it's exceptions. Having a cadre of select individuals, who have rotated thru Security Duty, TDY, in their career, like I went to SP duty (and it most definitely wasn't Shore Patrol, LOL) would likely be a good, pro-active policy for the AF. And those who shouldn't be carrying a weapon, ever, won't be in that group. But you never know what "the next war" will bring. Being ready for contingencies that HAVE arisen, in the past, prevents "PPP".