Dang! You beat me! It took me 11 years. Worked construction, then 4 yr Navy Hitch, then OJT as a transformer engineer. They told me they weren't looking for a grad as it wasn't taught in college. ( Mostly custom high temperature downhole xformers) I bit, and then later they said they were limiting my raises since I didn't have a degree. Back to school while I continued working there. GI Bill really helped. Once I got my degree, 5 yrs or so later, they said what else is new? So off to NASA for me.