Why is the Air Force so undisciplined and lazy?

Question

I always find them complaining about something. They were complaining about their chowhall when they get steak and lobster every wednesday. In the Marine Corps, we got steak twice a year and we couldn't even get seconds. Today I saw an airmen sleeping behind a gun and he is supposed to be SF. I yelled at him and his NCO wakes up, walks up to me and tells me that I can't do that. Its hard to believe that the Air Force is even part of the military. Don't tell me that I need the air force for close air support. Marine Corps already have their own fixed airwing, Artillery support and naval gunfire support. What does the Air force do for Marines?

It's never ok to sleep behind a gun on post. You should be manning your gun. That is just unacceptable.

Answer 1

Because the Air Force and Marines have different jobs. Discipline in the Air Force is as strict as it needs to be and to make it stricter would cause a breakdown in the largely technical missions that it has just as loosening Marine discipline would be detrimental to what they do.

Also, close air support is not a primary mission with the Air Force as it is often counter productive. Assets are better used in deep strike. That is why the Marines have their own close support force and the Army division has their fourth brigade being an air brigade (rotary-winged aircraft).

Answer 2

While your complaint about sleeping on watch is valid going back to the Roman Legions, you can't dismiss the entire Air Force for that one incident.

The Air Force does two big things for the Marines: First, heavy lift. They get your tanks and big guns to the battle field much quicker than the Navy could.

Second, air superiority. Most Marine CAS craft are vulnerable to interdiction. But Air Force F-16's, F-15s and the new F-22s completely eliminate enemy air units.

My personal view of the Air Force has been it is not so much military as a bunch of civilians who dress alike. But that works for them. They never have a need for the level of discipline the other branches require.

Answer 3

The role of the Air Force is not to support the Marines. The Air Force ensures air supremacy, so Marine air units can operate freely and not get shot out of the sky by enemy planes. The Air Force also handles strategic heavy bombing and maintains the nuclear arsenal. Air Force people are not meant to be super soldiers, they there to operate and maintain highly sophisticated air and space assets.

Answer 4

There are lazy troops in every branch just like there are in every company. While you may not want to hear it, the AF does serve it's purpose very well. Sure, sometimes the Marines go in first, but there are also times that the AF bombs the snot out of the area and THEN the Marines go in to clean house. As someone who has family members in BOTH...give credit where credit is due on each side.

I can understand your frustration with those particular airmen, but go through the chain of command if you have an issue. If you're not happy with his 1st shirt...then go higher. In any case, take care of yourself. I hate us losing anyone from any branch.

Answer 5

Because were the best at what we do. Along with having higher ASVAB scores. Depending on where you are at, the sleeping behind the gun thing wouldn't be that big of a deal (SF is the most strict part of the AF, and don't allow sleeping on post. So if his NCO allows it.. it must be ok)

I'm sorry if you feel that the AF doesn't stand up to your standards of the military. As far as I'm care it is the best, especially for finding a job AFTER the military.

And the complaining thing.... its just what we do...=P

Answer 6

It has been like that for years. My wife is retired from the Air Force and she wasn't able to write people up for being late to work. She had one guy that she had to go to barracks and wake him up every morning, by orders of her CO who was a major. That's when she decided that it was time to retire.

Answer 7

Sounds like you are complaining more than the flyboys,
the Marine Corp must be stuck if they had to take a complainer like you.

You do your job and they will do theirs when the crap hits the fan they do their job ok.

And at times even the Corp is glad of back up from the Airforce.

Answer 8

All the branches have that problem. But I did notice that the Air Force had the better bases, housing, ect... :) So they really have nothing to complain about.

Semper Fi...

Answer 9

Probably from watchin too many american airforce movies. The hero is always stubborn, undiscplined and lazzzzzy.
Guess the entire air force wants to be 'Maverick' in 'Top Gun'

Answer 10

I knew a marine, he worked as a security guard for my hotel, he was having a hard time because somehow he ended up in hawaii. He was very wise and open minded. He told me about marines who are, in his words, brain washed, to think they're number one in the world. More so than other branches. Other branches they'll think they're number one. They'll know they're number one. But they won't express and act like they're number one and push it around as blindly as said brainwashed marines would.

My opinion... they're called the Chair Force for a reason. But just because one person, a few people, one company, one whole battalion, doesn't act right, don't assume the entire organization is like them. Every branch has their lazy units/company. I'm sure you've seen some in the Marines, but push it aside because they're Marines. If the Air Force is such an unnecessary branch in modern warfare, it wouldn't exist.

For me I'm more of an Army man.