For us we had a big trade school you could go to for the last two years of high school. Normal school academic classes for one half of the day, the program of your choice for the other.
They had IT stuff, welding, auto repair, culinary etc. I went for EMS/Fire.
I still went to college. It’s a cool social experience but holy fuck it’s a bad financial move for most people. I’m glad I graduated debt free
The reason why police have a ton of “militarized” equipment us because the military puts a lot of gear up for sale as surplus. Our county sheriffs picked up an old hummvee and MRAP for practically nothing.
Cybertrucks aren’t mil surp. Maybe years from now but not anytime soon