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What in the world makes you think M-16 training is a critical skill for the USAF?

If we have someone deploying in a role where the M-16 is needed, we train them. Before going to Afghanistan, I qualified on the Army course at Ft Sill.

However, the M-16 is irrelevant for the vast majority of our people. We don’t DO hand-to-hand fighting. You cannot launch aircraft that way!

As a WSO/EWO, I’ve taken my fair share of shots at pilots, but pilots are not what is wrong with the USAF. Too many reductions leading to a one-mistake Air Force (unless you are senior, in which case you can screw up ALMOST as often as you want), too many data-links leading to the stifling of initiative, and too many GOs who got their rank because Daddy was a GO before them - that is where our problem lies.

It is a lack of leadership at the top - yes, and a lack of seriousness about the war we are in. But it isn’t just the USAF - the Army ran Afghanistan, and I saw little or no sign of intelligence or efficiency in the senior ranks there, either.

What in the world makes you think M-16 training is a critical skill for the USAF?

Other than the fact that kids straight out of tech school are being involuntarily sent to Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan and serving as TCN escorts or convoy security even though their AFSC has nothing to do with combat arms or security forces? Well nothing of course. I mean, why would some AF IT tech need to know how to handle an M16 when they're doing convoy security through Basra?

Too many reductions leading to a one-mistake Air Force (unless you are senior, in which case you can screw up ALMOST as often as you want), too many data-links leading to the stifling of initiative...

You have no idea how right you are. I was considered to be a "fast burner," a "fire-breathing" maintenance officer...then I went to a munitions depot unit, commanded by a guy whose prior assignment was the Pentagon, who was followed by another Pentagon flunkie. Two people, both at least 3 years away from the REAL Air Force...who were used to saying "I'm from General So-and-so's office..." and would get their way, ALWAYS.

They were not pleased with my emphasis on "Our Mission First, Our People ALWAYS," to the point that I was continuously demeaned in front of our people, followed by less-than-glowing evaluations.

Needless to say, I did NOT make my next rank, and suddenly became a complete pariah, getting awful assignment offers...leading me to leave active duty for the Reserves, even though I had been offered to stay in until retirement. BAD move...I didn't get promoted in the Reserves either (remember I still had the awful evals written by people who had worked for big GOs in the Pentagon...) and now I am completely out of the Air Force.

Contrast my situation with that of a few guys I knew in my Year Group (1992) who were caught sleeping with the enlisted girls or driving drunk, and are now entering the promotion zone for Lieutenant Colonel.

However, the M-16 is irrelevant for the vast majority of our people. We don’t DO hand-to-hand fighting. You cannot launch aircraft that way!

So what you're saying is that you're a desk jockey and not a warrior? The British conducted a very effective bayonet charge during the invasion of Iraq. Your mentality is a perfect example of why the AF is becoming less relevant to the modern battlefield. What happens when all the combat aircraft are unmanned?

I have news for you, the military is going to get even smaller in the future and the expectation will be that they be just as capable. The AF better get with the program.