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?
392K
4.23K
1.93K
562
562
0
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 >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 907
0
0
0
0
0
0
If your plan goes down you need to be able to defend yourself and UR crew
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I was a CE IMA FOR 25YEARS(8AD)FOR THE MAJORITY OF MY CAREER I MAINTAINED MY M9 M16 QUALIFICATION ONE YEAR WHILE ASSIGNED TO LANGLEY WE WENT TO THE CG RANGE WHERE A FEMALE AIRMAN PURPOSELY FAILED QUALIFICATION THE FOLLOWING DAY AS I ENTERED THE BASE WHO DO YOU THINK I SAW ON THE GATE?WHAT A DANGEROUS JOKE
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
This reminds me of the clerk/typist/translator in Saving Private Ryan. Although it was Army personnel.
Capt Miller: DId you fire the weapon in basic training?
Cpl Upum: Yes Sir
Capt Miller: Then grab your gear ......
Capt Miller: DId you fire the weapon in basic training?
Cpl Upum: Yes Sir
Capt Miller: Then grab your gear ......
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
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.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
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.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
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
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
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.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
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.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
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.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google