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

I don't know how things are these days and I can't speak for other bases but when I was active (1985-1989), we had to requalify every year with the M-16. Our range wasn't long enough to place the targets 1,000 yards away so, they compensated by having us shoot from 100 yards away at a silhouette that was 1/10th normal size. All hits had to be within the center mass area to qualify for expert. I grew up shooting much larger caliber rifles so, hitting the target with an M-16 was a breeze. Additional training included field stripping, cleaning and reassembly. It may have had something to do with the fact that our base was the 1st SOW. I was in the 834th AGS attached to the 20th SOS. In addition to our M-16 training and qualification, my unit had to go through special training to be able to service and maintain the helicopters while hot (loaded) guns were installed.

Apparently things have changed. I worked in Ammo and carried an M-16 during exercises and certainly during Desert Storm. I’ve been out for 28 years and don’t understand why it changed.

It wouldn't hurt!

I understand what you mean. There have been a number of publications about airbase defense doctrine and ID (Integrated Defense) in particular. The ID concept is a page right out of the Army and Marine Corps playbooks: every Airman is responsible for defending the airbase, not just SF, not the Army, not the Marine Corps, unless of course it’s a joint base (which it likely would be, and in that case Soldiers and Marines are responsible for base defense as well). The Air Force has done a lot of chest beating in recent years about fighting in contested battle space, and basing on hostile turf. Yet, when it comes to actually mentally and physically preparing Airmen to survive and function in a true contested battlefield environment, it doesn’t really pan out. There’s still far too many Airmen who aren’t in fighting shape, and wouldn’t know how to handle a weapon if the S hit the fan. I understand in investing in our Airmen to be the best mechanic, pilot, port dawg, loggie, etc. but I also believe that they need to be given the tools and training to survive in a contested environment long enough to do their primary job. Even just one week of combat training per year (small unit tactics, rifle range, TCCC) would be an improvement, especially in light of this great war that’s supposedly on the horizon. But alas, the Air Force won’t change things until they have to, (i.e. people start getting killed.

I was in the 934th TAC US Air Force we had firearm training & qualified with the M 16 at the firing range shooting in all positions

xxx

I was trained as a aircraft electrician. I qualified expert on the m1, the m16 and the 38 pistol as part of my advanced training prior to going to Vietnam, 1967/68. I was required to carry rifle and pistol on the flight line. I had to use them a number of times. I never met anyone who couldn't use these weapons. I agree all in the military should have some cross training.

This argument again. Get real, get a new topic. In 2025 Nike will be making a footwear for all services. It will be called "Space Jerks".

I don't know how it is now but when I went in everybody got some training on the M-16 and had to fire it at the range. After that if you weren't in sec police or law enforcement it was unlikely you would ever touch one again. As an instructor we did train CES on weapons and included them in air base ground defense as back up. Now all of that may have changed but we were told when I went into security police that we would no longer have the army to protect our bases. We would have to do it ourselves. That was the 1970s and 80s.

I started out in the Marine Corps. I went through all the training including my MOS training: 6113, CH-53A/D helicopter mechanic. I also trained up the become a plane captain and a Crew Chief. I wasn’t the best shooter by far but I qualified as every Marine was required. Every Marine is a rifleman, that is true. Every Marine is not a 0311 Infantry. Two separate MOS’s doing completely different jobs. I got out after four years. Civilian light sucks, period. I hated being one and tried to get back into the Marines. Didn’t happen. Instead I joined the Air Force. I went direct duty to my first Air Force assignment as a HH-53B/C crew chief. Please note the difference between my spelling of the words crew and chief. In the Marines, Crew Chief was a title. We wore gold Aircrew wings and we flew and worked on our assigned helicopters exclusively. In the Air Force, crew chief is a job. The differences were minor as far as the job went. Rotor heads, engines, hydraulics, airframe, etc. there was no differences between the services. The difference was the culture. We were Marines. When we ran out of helicopters, they issued us a rifle and we headed for whatever and wherever we were needed. I was a corporal (E-4). I was an NCO. I would have been totally lost if I had to lead Marines in ground combat. The Air Force confused the heck out of me. I can honestly say I never fully figured out everything about being an Airman. I served in the Air Force for 21 years and retired as a SMSgt.

At some point in war, the enemy can be expected to do the unexpected. They attack at your weakest point. They people on the flight line, in the back shops, in all the various shops and offices would be lost in ground combat. Yes, we have Security Forces. I battalion of enemy troops would put a hurt locker on an Air Force Base. SF Airman posted on the perimeter of a base are going fight. They are warriors in every sense of the word. They are also a finite resource. Use up all you SF repelling an attack, who’s going to fill in those positions on the perimeter?

I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it: training an Airman on the basics of infantry combat during basic training is a force multiplier. Without this training, the enemy will have a target rich environment. And I’m not talking about places like Afghanistan where the enemy is fighting a gorilla war. I’m talking about places like Korea.

Anyway, that’s my opinion, hopefully I made a bit of sense.