Pretty sure operational missile targeting isn't done by programmers.
The pilots themselves can't even enter the coordinates. These planes were programmed by the CIA.
Especially in 1999 and especially with legacy systems, the word "programming" means "providing computers with coded instructions for the automatic performance of a task".
This is similar to how a television network would "program" a list of shows to occur in order automatically.
I suppose my overriding point here is that there are credentialed people with smart sounding degrees whose maximum extent of interacting with computers is typing in instructions.
And therefore, we should be extremely wary when we use credentialing as the litmus test for "should they enter bomb coordinates that will be flying over civilian heads"