Got this figured out (in time for my son).
I went to college, then to grad school. Still never really had a "profession". Owned several businesses, which suited me. I never wanted to be an employee. So now I trade. Sometimes it's good, sometimes not. Got lucky enough to have made good dough during the big bull run, and hopefully it will last a while. And got lucky to have a wife that makes a nice living (never something to be counted on!!!)
As for my son, he totally screwed up in his junior year of High School.
Which may have turned out to be a blessing (I am hoping).
Smart kid, but took himself out of the running for getting into a really good college. So he took the military aptitude test. Scored top percentile (remember, this isn't like the SAT, where everyone plans on going to college,so it's easier to score well). Took the Navy's Nuclear Propulsion aptitude test. Scored sufficiently to get admitted.
So now he will go live on campus at their Nuclear Propulsion school. He gets paid to go to school, and has a total obligation of 6 years. If he does the minimum, he can expect to get a "job" right out of the Navy for 80-100k (today's dollars).
If he goes through with his "master plan" then he becomes an officer, and then goes to flight school. This now becomes a 12 year commitment.
Once in for 12, might as well do 20, and get full retirement benefits (which are payable whether you work or not).
So at the ripe old age of 38 (about how old I was when he was born), he will be retired, and can get a real job. And will be a sought after job candidate.
Like Ivy League grads, ex-military officers are highly sought after.
He wants to do the flight school. Sounds cool to me. What could be more fun than flying F-18's or F-14'?
But he is also getting "rushed" by Naval Intelligence. Which could put him in a true "growth industry" in today's world.
So though my military experience was horrible, and unavoidable, I see a great deal of appeal in a "peacetime" no conscript military (for the right kids).
Good benefits, decent pay (better to get paid to go to school than to pay).
Oh, yeah,,,,,,they have GIRLS there these days too (but I doubt they compare to the girls at the Florida schools).
Just an option.