Why did the 74D computer operator MOS change to a biological, chemical, nuclear, radioactive specialist?

2020-10-05T12:33:37-04:00

I retired in 1991 as a 74D computer operator. I go back to reminisce and found out that 74D computer operator no longer exists, and not only thay, but the exact same MOS has completely changed to a different job title, description. Why did this happen? I understand using reel to reel tapes and punch cards is a thing of the past but why wasn't the MOS code 74D simply retired? 74F in the day was our big brother companion, the next step-up job titled computer programmer, and still is to this day. Didn't the Army have any available ##X's that they had to reuse 74D? I'm confused, disappointed, saddened, really that my job title has been stolen and replaced rather than retired.

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Oct 5 at 2020 12:52 PM

2020-10-05T12:52:47-04:00

SPC Scott Kauffman This happens due to changing times. The 91D's used to be 68W or something like that. Times change and so does the Army. The 74D now is CBRN.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 6 at 2020 8:45 PM

2020-10-06T20:45:04-04:00

Changing times, when I was in you were either an 11B or 11C- dragon, recoiless rifle, tow had specialty codes. Then they took recoiless rifle /Tow and made them 11H. Them Mech folk became 11M. The service updates, downgrades changes MOS's as they like.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Oct 9 at 2020 11:47 AM

2020-10-09T11:47:38-04:00

The problem was that you had a variety of MOSs in the same family spread about far too many CMFs. They restructured the whole thing so that families of skills were arranged in the same CMF to the greatest degree possible. This meant moving signal and computing together into CMF 25, and all the mechanics into CMF 91.

Weirdest was engineers who went from 12 to 21 then back to 12 in just a few years.

Only thing I think they didn't touch was Infantry, because the would have gotten lost (you should have seen us 11Ms when we we redesignated as 11B; took us weeks to find the motor pool again).