even in people in the military are told that to climb the ranks, they require a degree if you want to advance your career in the military and become a officer or higher. my grandfather was a lieutenant during ww2 and he told me they would have never allowed him to reach that rank today if he enlisted because back then he only received a hs education.  my cousin who wanted to make career in the military pretty much gave up on it when he was told that cwo was highest he will ever go with his cc education.
Canada