Also, in the US there is the GI bill. 4 years of service and they pay for your college degree. If you're smart enough to take advantage of it, in a lot of cases you can take classes while you're serving too. Paid for. At the very least, get the basics out of the way via online classes.

Open University is an option.

Trades are great, and there's a lot of them beyond what most people think about (construction).

It doesn't take much to start a business in the US either. Doesn't have to be big, just get some experience and momentum.

So yeah, there's plenty of opportunity. They just don't want to work for it.