Former and currently active duty members, I've got a question.

K

Kimio

New member
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this. I wasn't quote sure where to place this topic. Moderators please move it to the appropriate location if this is the wrong sub-forum for this topic.

On topic, I'll be leaving for basic training for the US Air Force this fall, and out of curiosity, I was wondering what the rule was for active duty members as far as firearms are concerned. The position I'm slated for is Intel so I'm not going to be combat infantry.

Can I bring a rifle with me or have one shipped to me after I've been stationed at my home base, or is there a rule or something pertaining to this? My uncle told me I could, but ny rifles or whatever would stay in the armory (makes sense to me), he however served over 30 years ago, and times certainly have changed since then.

This may be a question for my recruiter, but I'm not sure he'd be able to give me a definitive answer.
 
you won't be allowed to have any personal firearms in basic training and it will be a real pain for every stop after that.
 
Alot depends on your command. If your base is in an anti gun state(ie CA), that could be a problem right there in the same way as if you went somewhere for your civilian job.

If you are living in barracks (as you almost certainly would be as a junior enlisted) that would certainly be a huge problem for private ownership and at a minimum you'd have to keep them stored in the armory.
 
I've been in the Air Force now for a little over four years. I don't have any of my guns over here in Korea, they are staying back in the States with my folks. When I was still living on base, I got a storage unit off base to keep my rifles and pistols. I do not recommend leaving them at the armory. If you have anything cool, some of the Security Forces guys may take it out and shoot it without your permission. No offense to any of the good SFS guys out there, but some Air Force cops are real jokers that I wouldn't trust with an airsoft gun. Best of luck to you in basic, its not gonna be fun but you'll get through it. If you've got any questions about the Air Force, feel free to shoot me a PM.
 
When I served in the Army in the 90's, I had a Glock 19 and AR-15, which I owned before enlisting. I was also MI and later got assigned to SF teams.

After I got settled at my first assignment on AD at DLIFLC in Monterey, CA, I brought my guns out to CA from CT one weekend on leave. They had to be stored in the armory on post and, although I did use the handgun once or twice while there for some target shooting with friends at Ft Ord, I never used my rifle.

A short time later, I went to Korea with the 2d ID and left my guns in CT. I then went to 1st SFG(A) at Ft Lewis, WA and brought them back out west.

As a single soldier living in the barracks, I had to keep my personal firearms in the armory, which made it difficult to get them out without arranging it ahead of time. I believe that all military bases prohibit keeping personal weapons in barracks, I'm not sure about individual enlisted or officers quarters though. So unless you live off base, you likely won't have easy access to those firearms.

That being said, the other consideration is the legality of having your particular firearms in a state with certain restrictions, like CA.
 
I was USAF during the early 70s and the only way you could possess a firearm was if you could live off base. Taking one on base is such a HUGE hassle it's not worth it. Some base commanders will place you at the top of their sh#t list if you even ask. It sucks but the base CO has the all the marbles. Also in the Air Farce you will only qualify maybe once a year on a rack grade worn out M 16 that is handed to you. It's a joke. The Air Farce doesn't really have much use for small arms. They're more into strategic bombing and nukes. SigRex, are you at Osan or Kunsan? I spent a year at Kunsan in 72-73.
 
If you are enlisted, less than E4 and single, you WILL live on-base unless you are in some kind of remote location that doesn't have on-base housing. Therefore, personal ownership of firearms just isn't practical. Leave them at home until you are senior enough to live off base.
 
Some bases have Rod & Gun clubs,,,

Three of the USAF bases I was stationed at had Rod & Gun clubs,,,
Two were overseas and one was stateside.

In all cases the Rod & Gun clubs had ranges and you (as a dues paying member) were allowed to store your firearms at the club.

This was nice for a young enlisted man,,,
In Germany (Hahn AFB) I had a Marlin 75 in .22 Semi-Auto,,,
It was very nice to get off work, drive to the clubhouse, and shoot a box of rimfire.

This was back in the dark ages though,,,
But it's worth checking into.

The position I'm slated for is Intel so I'm not going to be combat infantry.
Click to expand...

It's the Air Force my friend,,,
They don't have combat infantry. ;)

Aarond
 
I stored my firearms at my squad leader's house, in on-post family housing, with his permission, of course. I used to go shooting almost every weekend (I was stationed at Fort Carson, CO) and it would have been a major undertaking to get my arms from the arms room every weekend.

Living in the barracks really restricts you... you can't even store them in your vehicle (if you so desired.)

My thought was to get a 5'X10' storage unit off post and put a safe in it, I could keep my excess gear and whatnot there as well.
 
Thank you for the replies everyone. I figured as much, I didn't expect to be able to bring them with me right away.

How does the off base housing work? The way it was explained to me is that when an opportunity arises, we would draw tickets for who would be able to move off base. I assume even if I was lucky enough to have the stars, planets and moons align in my favor that I was to be stationed here state side and after a while was able to live off base that I'd have to arrange with a local FFl dealer to have my guns shipped to me? Do I need to inform my CO's if I have them shipped out to me?

Now in the case that I was sent to another base for a while, or was shipped to Iraq and I live off base, do I have to move all my stuff, or does it work that after I'm done with my term over seas or wherever I simply come back to my first base, return "home" so to speak?

@Aarond
I thought the USAF PJ's (para jumpers) were combat oriented or am I mistakened?

Thank you everyone for all the responses thus far.
 
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I was the Air Force form 1998-2004. Stateside, like others have mentioned you can bring your guns with you. But the laws of a particular state are still in effect so depending on where you get stationed you'll just have to ask when you get there.

Also like others have stated, if you live on base your guns are required to be stored in the armory. I'm not sure if that rule applies to base housing (I think it does), but if you live in the dorms, it's mandatory. If you live off base you can keep your guns with you at home.

I was told when I was in that the armory has to make your guns available to you 24/7 365 days a year. I never tested that, but I never had any trouble retrieving my guns when I wanted to go shooting.

Overseas I can't comment. I was stationed in Korea and Japan and just figured I'd couldn't bring them so I left them with my parents. But the important thing is to just ask. Also ask several people. Don't always take just one persons word for things, especially in the military. The military is notorious for one guy having heard this and another guy having heard that and so on and passing that on as "official" info/ regulations.

Oh yeah, a previous poster mentioned cops shooting your guns. If you do store your guns the armory, put a trigger lock on it just to be safe. While I have no actual verification if its true or not, I too heard stories of Security Forces personnel taking guns out of the armory to shoot at the range. I like to think these are just urban myths, but hey, better safe than sorry.
 
If you have anything cool, some of the Security Forces guys may take it out and shoot it without your permission.
Click to expand...


Horse Hockey! In 24 years in the Security forces, I have never seen or heard of this happening. I have seen them play with them IN the Armory, but they have never been taken out to shoot.

<rant off>

More than likely you will have to live on base, unless you are married and your wife is with you. They will not be allowed in the dorms and if you get caught with them in the dorm, your in big trouble.

Some bases will allow you to have them in base housing, but if you get re-assigned, you'll have to ship them back to your folks place. I would never recommend they be put in a storage unit or allow the military to store them long term for you. (I bought a storage unit that had been rented by a military guy and found a few guns in it. No idea how to get in touch with him. I kept the guns and a few other thing and sold the rest.)

Congratulations on choosing to serve.
 
The armory is no place to leave a weapon,,,

At McClellan AFB I placed two rifles in storage at the Base Armory,,,
Not counting the fact that every time I wanted to check them out,,,
I had to get signed permission from my squadron First Sergeant,,,
The rifles got beat up very badly.

I had them both in a Pelican rifle case,,,
Both got many dents and dings on the wood and metal,,,
I had to leave a key for the case so I know they were played with.

You are going to be much too busy in your first year to bother with guns,,,
Wait until you hit your first permanent duty assignment,,,
Then worry about your personal weapons.

Do what I did,,,
Make friends with the base range-master,,,
If you do that you'll get to shoot lots of Uncle Sugar's guns & ammo.

Each member of the USAF has an allotment of ammo they can use to keep proficient,,,
It's just that 99% of the Airmen don't want to use their allotment,,,
Just contact the range-master and say,,,
"I want to learn how to shoot."

They are more than happy to provide training,,,
Uncle Sugar supplies the gun & ammo.

Aarond
 
It might be better to operate on the basis that you'll be issued everything you need for awhile and backburner any thoughts about having your own life until you see how it all works, where you go, and what the rules are.

That might be hard to do but realize that you are turning over control of your life to others for quite awhile. Stay flexible, keep a sense of humor, and wait and see.

(My experience says there's no room for much of anything of your own - on submarines.)
 
Each member of the USAF has an allotment of ammo they can use to keep proficient,,,
It's just that 99% of the Airmen don't want to use their allotment,,,
Click to expand...

Never heard of that. 21 years in the USAF and I've never heard of such a thing. Worth noting, assuming that it's true: is getting gee whiz range time on a USAF range is going to be difficult if not impossible. They stay busy these days, and they don't really have the staffing for A1C Shmuckatelly to just walk in a start shooting.

As to the OP's question. Leave your firearms at home until you are at your first base. Your first couple of years will be a learning experience and you will need to concentrate on your upgrade training. Your first supervisor will tell you all about it. You will also be on the hook for a deployment fairly soon as well, unless I'm mistaken. Get where your going, get the lay of the land then figure out if you want/need your guns. Most overseas locations: forget it. Germany is one of those that allow firearms, heavily regulated but it's doable. There may be others, but do your own homework.
Note, BEFORE you get your guns at your base, have a storage plan. A few things to consider:
Friend off base-Will they PCS while your deployed? It happens. Are they honest? They won't be pawning your stuff when your deployed will they? That too happens.
Storage Unit-Before a deployment ensure that you have paid it up for at least a year. Seriously, you've watched Storage Wars and those shows like it? You want your stuff up for auction?
Base Armory-I've heard the stories about Security Forces guys enjoying other people's guns. Can't speak to it first hand, but I'm sure it has happened somewhere at some times. I did speak with a very angry guy a couple years ago who had went to the IG to complain about the armory. Seems he was PCSing and they armory was unable to locate his Sig after several attempts.
 
Find someone you trust off base and leave your guns with them.

If you don't want to do that get with a few of the gun owners you are stationed with and get a storage unit and keep all your shooting and hunting gear there
 
Hello overkill0084,,,

I was in from 1970 to 1978,,,
People have enlisted and retired with 30 years since I got out.

But, here's how it went.

I was sitting in the NCO club stag bar,,,
We didn't have an Airman's Club.

I struck up a conversation with a Tech Sergeant who ran the range,,,
He told me that each and every Airman had an ammo allotment.

All you had to do to train more than your once a year qualification,,,
Was to fill out a training request form at the base armory,,,
I did and was authorized 100 rounds of ammo/month.

Now it's like any other outfit in the service,,,
If the guy running it likes you,,
You get more bennies.

In this case we hit it off very nicely,,,
I would go to the range once a week and shoot,,,
I wasn't interested in shooting the M-16 as much as the pistol.

For the entire two years I was at Hahn AFB,,,
I shot 100 rounds at least once a week,,,
I listened and applied his lessons,,,
I got good with a S&W Model 15.

I did this same thing at every base I was stationed at except Lowry,,,
I was student status (E-5) in cross-training and wasn't eligible.

In Korea I was stationed on a small Army compound (Camp Long),,,
I met the Army range-master at a house of ill repute,,,
Bought him a couple of beers and a yobo,,,
I got to shoot all kinds of neat stuff.

Aarond
 
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