The navy used to be real good at training and OJT for machinists and such, but a lot of the SeaBee rates have been dropped.
Yep, you’re definitely right about that. And, the qualified machinist workforce that came in during and after WII - who could manual machine (which is still needed also) are gone now, as well.
My husband was extremely lucky in that our High School was part of a unique program through the TMA about 20 years ago. Worked part-time his Sr. year of high school through a work-study program at the shop (in the shipping dept. mostly - separating parts, which tested his willingness to do the ‘crap work’ and put up with it - that separated out the serious ones. He went to work Full-Time at the shop the day after graduation (Monday morning bright and early). They not only paid him for his time at work, but then also paid for his schooling, and paid him for the hours in school. As a result though they had a VERY skilled precision/prototype journeyman machinist (after grad. and I think it was 2 years of work after?) who was well worth the investment - and my husband got an EXCELLENT education in his craft. He was very lucky to have been in that program, as it was rare back then (20+ years ago), and I’d bet it’s even rarer now.