From the article: Army Enlisted Job Descriptions and Qualification Factors
Have you ever been assigned to a Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) in MOS Field 74 - - Chemical? If so, tell us what it was like. Did you love your job? Did you hate it? What was your average day like? Share Your Experiences
Cbrno
- 74d is not an easy job in a non chemical unit. Get used to being tasked out to do every cleaning job detail, showers, toilets, taking out the trash, lots of paperwork.
- —Guest Cburned
54B/74D
- I have being 74D for 25 years and I have heard all the negative and positive about this (MOS) 74D; from the terms (NBC) “No Body Cares” to “Car Wash Attendant” in a Decon Platoon, to (BIDS) “Shames”. I’m here to tell most of the 74D Soldiers, if the shoes fit wear it, but if you didn’t took the numerous opportunities that was giving to you while you were assign to any unit besides a chemical company I will have to said, shame on you and you had a choice to become and learn and expand your military carrier as a 74D. I sold my CBRN program to my Commanders in every unit I was assign or attached too, because that is our job as 74D’s. CBRN defense is really interesting if you put yourself in that position to educate yourself first, then to teach and train others to know what you know, you will see that becoming a 74D has a great opportunity in today’s Arm forces and in the civilian today’s economy.
- —Guest Chembio for life
Great MOS would never change it
- Ok heres the deal, you hear all these bad things about the MOS. Believe me I have heard them all. But check this out, my first duty station was in Germany, that in itself is an awesome experience. I was a chemical company guy in an aviation unit. Yea you get tasked out to do everything but your job but thats just more stuff to add in your tool box on top of being profecient in basic CBRN tasks. My second assignment is what every chemical soldier wants, I went to a Technical Escort battalion. One of the greatest experiences and units I have been in. I have gotten so much up to date CBRN training and certifications that are impeccable, and looks amazing on your resume. I am now a Garrison CBRN NCO in Korea. I work with nothing but civilians and I am the subject matter expert. Yes I have other additional duties but the job is what you make it especially when you are profecient in your CBRN Tasks. My next assignment is the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in Ft Belvoir.
- —Guest nixonredsox
54B/74D
- For me the job was excellent and gave me numerous opportunities to excellent. Every assignment I had as a 54B allowed me to expand my learning curve, of course some assignments were better than others based on the leadership of the unit. I served from the company level to brigade. The negative side of the MOS is promotions to the Sr. NCO ranks. Up to the rank of SFC/E7 promotions are fairly quick but that's where things can come to a screeching halt. On average promotions to E8 is difficult with an average of 22 promotion slots being available per year not to mention only 2 to 4 slots available for Sgt Maj. The year I retired there was over 500 E7's vying for 24 E8 slots. Not much room at the top. Historically the Cemical Corp CSM has a lot of pull and his recommendations normally are listened to by board members. It is pretty much a good ok boys club at the top. The best way to get promoted is to get into a CSM's back pocket and get his recommendations on promotion trends.
- —Guest S. Sayers
74D Great Job in the New Army
- I have been in the military for 9 years and have been a 74D for all of those years. I have to say this is a great MOS but I can understand some of the negative comments. The best years I have had are the ones where I was not assigned to a CBRN Unit. It is very exciting when you get to train Soldiers and the training usually draws a crowd when people start putting on mask and safety gear. The way to get the most out of this MOS is to make it seem so important that everyone wants to do it. That is what I did at most of the Units i was assigned to, of course if you are assigned to a CBRN Unit then good Luck!!! As you start to grow in rank as a 74D the job gets better. So far I have been a WLC Instructor, Brigade CBRN NCO, Worked at a BIDS Unit, and several other cool positions. Remember that as with everything in life, you will only get out what you put in.
- —Guest Audrey
Eh
- It is what you make of it. I spent six years running various NBC rooms. I've been in engineering, infantry, aritillery, and space units and each had their own ups and downs. I'd say that if you are motivated to conduct training and you have a commander that recognizes the importance of what you're trying to teach his soldiers, you will have a productive career. This job absolutely blows if you're in the National Guard. It is absolutely 0 priority to anyone and as others have said you'll end up a "hey-you" man. Overall, I found a lot of the CBRN defense stuff really interesting, and I did a lot to self-educate myself about it. It just depends on where you go whether this job will be good for you.
- —Guest 74D3P
Certified car washer
- I've been a 74D for 4 years now all army reserve. The recruiters promised all these schools I qualify for once completed AIT they lied I've gone to no schools and my unit uses me as an extra body. Both me and my battle buddy who is also a 74D have been reclassed he's and 88N and I'm a 92F and neither of us use our primary MOS and were both in a fueling company. But coming from a specialist that's been knocked down to a pfc use the training to your advantage never take for granted anything opportunity the army gives you.
- —Guest McGregor
Det 1 HHC 436th CHEM
- I was just given this MOS...I have yet to start my training. If anyone has any information or advice for me please throw a dog a bone and let me know where my future is heading.
- —Guest Curious
Sucks
- Job sucks have done it for 10 years and its the worst job ever
- —Guest Bman
NBC (NoBody Cares)
- I once tried to describe this job to my family. The best way i found to put it in clear civillian terms was ”car wash attendant”. As CBRN NCO's exist in nearly every unit, it's ”car wash supervisor”. In an actual chemical company it's mostly ”fully dressed guy with a pressure washer”. In theatre, however, you're the ”whatever guy”; whatever they need an extra body for, you're the guy (or gal as this MOS is co-ed). Tower duty, guarding the chow hall, escorting the locals who work on base or anything else that's too insignificant for anyone gainfully employed to cover-down on. I suppose i was fortunate as my platoon was tasked to be the PSD (security team) for the brigade commander. I sat in a gun turret for 15 months. I never saw a piece of detection or decon equipment and my mask collected dust. The only skill i gained was assembling and guaging a .50 cal, in total darkness, without losing a finger. How does this translate to the civillian world? I now stock shelves at Target. Yippee!
- —Guest t-cup
Keep Searching
- I was a 3E9 with the USAFR, I worked in Africa as a 5711 contractor and as a 74D in the National Guard. All the negative responses are true. But if you chose the MOS because you interested in the field make the best of it. Extend your education and do your FEMA online courses. Checkout Fredricks Commuinity College Emergency Managemt AAS. I would get all the jacked up details but I used it to my advantage and popped smoke and did homework or worked resumes. I know it is hard to volunteer but volunteer for whatever comes your way and then network. Bottom line in the long run you can qualify for awsome job in the civilian sector. As for the response that indicated higher ups didn't know what they were doing I find that true. At brigade level we had a chemical officer that had never responded to anything. Had a degree in education (non-science). I guess that is good for training if you know what your doing.
- —C11H26NO2PS
this is a really good job to know>>
- since the war is alomst over, and the military is moving back to garrison , you get to train soldiers, i love my job as a 74d in todays army...
- —Guest the king
Former NBC NCO
- I'd have to say that I'm 50-50 on it all. I was a 74D for 4 years from 2003 to 2007. The only chemical unit I served in was my basic training unit.
- —Guest Brad
No Body Cares
- There is a large selection of ignorant officers and senior NCOS. I was a member of 110th Chemical Tech Escort in Fort Lewis. That unit was the most messed up unit I had ever seen. We conducted Team Certifications and Validations. Those exercises which certified us had evaluators or Observer Controllers who didn't even know what safe or right was. The truth is that people get there on the "homeboy hookup" routine, but not because they are the best of what the Chemical Corps does. I have been out of the Army for over a year and I still have questions asked of me... It is really kind of pitiful. I am bitter because my supervisors didn't know what I knew yet still were paid more than me. The truth is that so many people in the Corps THINK they know what they are talking about you don't know if they are an expert or just another BFI flapping their gums until you know yourself. It makes me wish I went back to processing security clearances in some S-2 job in a non chemical unit. What a sham!
- —Guest No Body Cares
You missed the point
- I have read some of these post and I am not sure of the original start date but I think some of you missed out on some very important learning opportunities. I was NBC for 13 years, served in every type of unit special ops, DTRA, Chem Demil, Tech Escort, Rad Saf, ect. Everytime they assign you to a non chem unit, you must use that time to work the system to advance through school. Being a 54B has allowed me to make a great living outside the military. Oh yeh I did the desert dance in 1991 with the 82nd got the T-shirt.
- —Guest 48 Black Knights(89)
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