I applied to join the Military, still hung over from Grad Night festivities. Same week everyone was back in school, I was getting screamed at in basic training. Yay.
Didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up, figured it would do for the time being... Still don't know what I want to be. Went through 4 trades, if you include Trade Amalgamations, where different CF Trades were combined. Retired as a Corporal, about as low as you can get, and not get kicked out for being a burden on the system. LOL! Started in Aircraft weapons System, got switched (voluntarily, sorta, as it meant I stayed in the Forces) to being an Airframe Technician, then an Aviation Tech (mechanic, some engine work, some electronics stuff, and some Armament), and then transferred to Air Craft Structures Tech, where I was doing Aircraft sheet metalwork, composites repairs, painting, machining, and industrial sewing, among other things.
For all that, the only piece of paper with my name on it, that was worth a plugged nickel, was the St John's Basic First Aid Certificate, that expired a few months after I left.
28 and a bit years later, they punted me out the front gate, and we went our separate ways, I retired on a Medical Release from the CF, two bad knees, and a spinal fusion surgery to my credit.
In today's world, they are having a hard time recruiting, as it seems like every couple weeks, there is yet another person crapping on the Military population as being sexist, racist, misogynist, you name it, or some other reason to feel guilty about something that was done by almost none of the people who are taking the crap for it. If some clown wants to get their sound bite on the News, hacking on a bunch of folks that cannot legally speak their mind about it, or refute the claims, the Military is a pretty good whipping boy. As such, I would dare suggest that crossing that route off your list, should be high on your priorities, unless you understand what you are getting in for, and it is the only way to get what you want (flying Jet Fighters, for eg). Otherwise, skip that route.
Look at Trades that have potential to transfer upwards or sideways to desk work. Your body will not last, on average, if you are doing a physical and demanding job every day. If you find it interesting and challenging, that goes a long ways too. Or, you could end up seeing an unrelated opportunity, and jump on that.
I have a hard time not suggesting Welding as at least a short term track. Young fella I know, graduated two-three years back, paid more in Income tax, last year, than I earned in the last three. If you can do the work, and keep from sticking it up your nose, drinking it all, or wasting it buying fast depreciating toys, you can have the option of picking your University path, and having the money in hand to pay for it, if you choose. Investments toward retirement, early in life, are better than those from later. And they act as a safety, should you need it, because, life, she can throw you some curves!
Controls and Instrumentation guys always seemed in demand, about anywhere there is any industry left. They don't get paid what a pipeline welder does, but they are not hunched over a cold chunk of steel all day, either.
On the Family front, I lived in Cold Lake Alberta for a fair number of years, and in that time, I saw a couple, and heard of lots more, guys that came back from Camp to find out that their now-Ex, had sold all their 'stuff' and moved in with the guy from behind the counter at the Napa store or such, because he was at least home every night! It isn't ALL about the money, eventually, you gotta have some work life balance.
My limited view of the world, anyways. My time in the CF has adequately prepared me for moving back to the family Farm, where, unlike in the CF, we can actually come up with money for parts, for the broken and worn out stuff I have to fix here! And, we can actually GET the damn parts!
