at ONC we were taught vectors and trig. At HNC we tackled the same thing using J notation - why learn two things?
A sign of the notorious "dumbing down" we hear so much about and which the government denies?
Having done differential and integral calculus at 'O' level, we 1960's apprentices covered the calculus with vectors and trig functions in the first year of ONC and went on to analysis of complex waveforms using imaginary numbers (aka 'j' notation) in year two. I think that rather than poor wages and the allegedly low status of the profession, it is reduced standards in the teaching of mathemetics and science that has contributed to the decline of the engineering industry in UK.
In the meantime I'd recommend that
flyboy investigates the possibility of securing an apprenticeship as an LAE at BAMC. His poor mathematical aptitude will make life a little difficult, but it wouldn't be fatal to a career in maintenance engineering.