Most of the nuclear power plant operators that do not have college degrees are from the navy nuclear program.
I have worked with one former enlisted who had served on the boats. No college degree. Still held his own around other engineers, and now moving toward plant manager.
Some people knock military tech training as “knowing just the narrow technical area”, but then I’m in Minnesota (for a week and a half remaining, then I’m outa here). The crew on the boats have their technical specialties, but are cross trained on every thing else, with the exception of operating the radio (thank John Walker for that).
A friend of mine worked on Navy nukes.
His favorite bumper sticker; "Navy Nukes Are Built Better Than Jane Fonda"