Networking and knowing someone (being connected) is a huge plus, there's no getting around that. If your starting out, don't have connections, and don't want to go to a trade school, a degree may give you a leg up. I think it's worth the time if your young and fall in those categories. Really, if I were young, I'd go in the Air Force, get as much schooling as possible and take it from there. There are people who work their way up the ladder, but that's the diificult way, especially the way things are nowadays. One thing I'll say about this website, for people who want to have the dream and have a very limited amount of cash to spend (if any), this might make it possible. It's an online pep rally, I'll never knock that.