When I got out of the NAVY many companies were hiring machinist trainees, this was back in the early 70's . In addition 3 nights per week you could get your tool and die journeyman card from the National Tooling & Machining Association if you worked 2000 hours. It was given at the community college, if you added some other education courses you would get your associates degree. Most general Ed courses were transferable in the university of NY system that's how I got my bachelors in Mechanical engineering.
