Get as much done as possible while you are in.
I've worked with a lot of ex RAF engineers in the last 7 years. They all came out with tickets, straight into jobs. Then on to type courses and were all on £45,000+ within a year.
The guys who came out without the tickets had to work and study. It took some of them 3 years plus to complete all the exams.
Use the system you are in to best advantage, then anything you are short of get it done asap. Its the exams that are important, worry about work placements later.