If you had to pick, which form of training is more important when it comes to making our country strong?

There are many roads to success. Sometimes the academic people suck at common sense and the common sense folks suck at the theoretical. It's what fits the person. A degree was just a gate for me to become an Armor Officer. The rest was up to me because college only gave me a baseline to work with. TLPs and OPORDs became the all mighty in my career. We should have a thread on it.

The training that the person is most likely to complete. Being a College drop out doesn't help anything, but if you complete an apprenticeship program lets say as an electrician you have a trade for a lifetime. It is up to the individual and what they are willing to complete.

Earn your degree first, become a go to person at your job, and then complete any certifications that may help you advance at your workplace.