Hi,
I'm with Vista on this one. I've been serving in the Navy as an aircraft engineer for 23 years now, and a lot of that has been working closly with the RAF as well!!!! But the forces can give you oportunities for you to take your life anywhere you want.
If you can handle being away from home for periods then i can recommend joining, I've enjoyed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah there is an aspect of "school" esp early on as you'll obviously have to learn your trade but get through that and you're away, as most of the qualifications you'd get are slowly coming accredited to "civvy" quals then if after a while you decide it's not for you you can take them when you leave.
Whatever you decide, go for it.
All the best.
Digger