I'm guessing ADA Programmer was getting phased out anyway (it disappeared in 2002). Or was there another programmer MOS around that time period? I don't know of any subsequent programmer MOS's. Some soldiers and sailors program now but those are very limited cases for the "Cyber" Brigades, and not on any table of organization.
In that case it sounds like the recruiter barely knew what went into O-level avionics so he or she guessed and said it was electronics-heavy. You now know that it's the I-level or Depot level techs that actually do troubleshooting with multimeter/oscilloscope, but only because you were involved in the Avionics field.
This was back in '85 ;) And while the skills may not have been applicable these days the work experience in the field at that time surely would have been.
To be fair the 10 month training for 68-J did include classes on circuits, resistors, etc... not that we ever used it.
Yeah the programmer MOS would have been great experience. Especially since the GI Bill benefits were pretty paltry in the 80s-90s (though college was way cheaper!).
I totally agree that the negotiation required to get a specific MOS is well above the ability of most 20-year-olds. That sucks about the recruiter lying about the school being full.
In that case it sounds like the recruiter barely knew what went into O-level avionics so he or she guessed and said it was electronics-heavy. You now know that it's the I-level or Depot level techs that actually do troubleshooting with multimeter/oscilloscope, but only because you were involved in the Avionics field.