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?
Rifleman
3P: Security Forces
Air Force
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 914
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My wife, retired USAF Officer, and ER/ICU nurse ALWAYS qualified with her weapon every year. She actually had to qualify with her weapon as part of her pre-deployment process because she took her weapon with her too. Although the hospital was on a military installation there are still insider threats and the long-shot possibility of the base being attacked or overrun. So, I am not sure as to the validity of this statement above.
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I agree. I was a Port Dawg and we only qualified on the M-16 every three years. When I was in Kuwait we had an armory where our weapons were kept. If the base came under attack we would have to find the key to the armory, check out the weapons, issue the ammo, and pray that we could hit the broadside of a barn door.
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I have seen this in the Army with non infantry types, MI, Signal, and believe it or not Tankers.
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If you were to run across half the people in army geospatial or signal int, you'd quickly hope they weren't issued m4 with live rounds. They're video game, anime, and manga kids. The trope that all the army are these combat trained hardened troops, well it just isn't accurate. I've personally seen a junior enlisted shoot himself in the ankle with the m4 and numerous clearing barrel fails.
When Dick Marcinko stood up st6, they had a negligent discharge from a team member into the back of another. Nobody is immune to fking up and no branch is all battle hardened infantry or sof. For that matter, the agency is mostly paper pushing types who don't have any interest or inclination to using a firearm in action either.
I was born on a chair force base. They really did have weekend sand volleyball and barbecues.
When Dick Marcinko stood up st6, they had a negligent discharge from a team member into the back of another. Nobody is immune to fking up and no branch is all battle hardened infantry or sof. For that matter, the agency is mostly paper pushing types who don't have any interest or inclination to using a firearm in action either.
I was born on a chair force base. They really did have weekend sand volleyball and barbecues.
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All Airmen qualify on the M-16 at Basic Training. Only Airmen in direct combat fields re-qualify annually, because frankly, there is 0 applicability of rifle or pistol qualification for most of our jobs. Airmen who deploy must qualify pre-deployment on any weapons they are expected to be proficient in for that deployment. Otherwise, a C-130 crew chief in Arizona, or an intelligence analyst in Georgia, or an RPA pilot in Nevada don't have much need for rifle/pistol quals.
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To my knowledge everyone still must qualify with a rifle or sidearm (depending on rank and AFSC). When I was active duty, all the medics had to qualify with an M-16 so that we could protect our patients. I qualified expert on the M-16 and M-9 Beretta.
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NO one talks about it BUT CESq is the PRIMARY BACKUP for SFSq ALL MEMBERS OF SFS and CES and SERVICES should have to SUCCESSFULLY complete AIRBASE GROUND DEFENSE COURSE when those members are being PAID WHAT THEY ARE the answer of THAT'S NOT MY JOB IS ABSOLUTELY BULLSHIT!
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