I think the military is a great springboard into many jobs when you have had enough of the service. I think ATI is a good school. (At least everything I've heard is positive, but you really get out what you put in as you have stated.)
BTW< thanks for the service, and protecting our freedom, and way of life.
I've never served in the military, but I grew up in/around it mostly on the airforce side of things, my dad worked for Boeing on many defense contracts world wide. (Middle East for over 10 years, 2+ in Tehran, 8+ in Saudi.) We would have lived in Iran longer, but dumbass Jimmy Carter had to open his mouth, stop paying off the Shite's and the Shaw was forced to leave the country, and so were we. (Really smart of President Carter, especially considering this was smack in the middle of the Cold War, and Iran is a great location on the underside of what was the CCCP.)