Are US Air Force soldiers weaker?

The Air Force fight more with their brains, and less with their muscles. Therefore they focus less on physical training and more on technical training.

So yes, you could say that the Air Force is weaker than the Army.

You could also say that the Air Force is smarter than the Army.

But what the real truth is... each branch trains to be the best at their assigned mission.

If you're talking about the PT in Air Force BMT vs. Army BCT (or any comparable course), they actually aren't that different (neither course is intended to weed out all the non-spartans), but once you get into your actual units, most AF units will only do calisthenics and running (if that) - leaving any other PT to the individual... and most of the time AF personnel aren't motivated to do something that doesn't directly relate to their job. Outside of special ops, aviation, and a handful of other units, there's not much encouragement for airmen to spend much time doing that (and again... mostly running). They'd rather you spend your time perfecting your job skills.

That being said though... want to take a guess which branch the current champion weightlifter is from?

The difference in physical standards between SOF troops are pretty negligible in the long-run. In training, each one has usually just one attribute that sets it apart from the rest. For example, the Army Special Forces focus heavily on navigation and survival skills early on, receive about twice as much language training, and have to go to Airborne school before starting (same with the Rangers). The Rangers basically took Infantry AIT and pumped it full of steroids, smoking sessions, and small unit tactics. The SEALs start training in the water almost immediately, while nobody else does anything like that until after they've already been through most of their other training. The PJs (and CCT) crammed the best and worst of everyone else's training into a relatively small timeframe, which means the learning curve is basically a vertical line.

well not really

the air force PT standards are harder than the Navy or even the army - although the army pt test has a slightly longer run

but you have half the time to do push ups and sit ups in the Air Force as you do in the navy and army

2. the air force actually spends longer in the field during basic -- than any other service -- including the marine corps

3. note air force basic has not been 6 weeks for over 10 years -- way to give updated info --- geez

Your friends are just engaging a little inter-branch rivalry and ribbing. An example: "I joined the Air Force because I hate the water, I'm too smart for the Army, and the Marines frighten me."

Let me tell you another joke that illustrates this:

A soldier, a sailor, and a marine all go out drinking together, and during the course of the night, they get into an argument about which branch of the service is the best. The argument gets so intense that it escalates until they all kill each other. Arriving in heaven, they are still arguing about it. St. Peter walks over to them and asks what the problem is. They explain their debate, and St. Peter says "I can resolve this. How about I go talk to God, and let him decide. If HE decides that one branch is better than the others, that would decide the matter, right?" All three agree that God has the final say, and that his decision would be appropriately final. A few hours later, St. Peter returns with a letter from God. He hands the letter to the three military men, and they read:

"My Children,

Thank you for your years of dedicated and selfless service to your country. Peter has explained your dilemma to me, and in fact ALL BRANCHES of the military are equally competent and capable. No one branch is superior to the others. I hope this resolves your debate amicably.

Much love,

God, USAF (ret.)"

The Mission of the US Air Force is to control the skies over the battlefield-

and the bulk of USAF personnel are in support jobs - in the rear with the gear.

The US Air Force has Airmen/women. They have No soldiers.

Soldiers are service members of an ARMY.

I was army infantry when I went in. My brother went air force, ultimately becoming an admin. He said they were pretty easy physically in basic. But then, he wasn't going in to be a supreme warrior of death either. He liked my stories and I thought his were pretty funny too.