Today's society wants to hire employees that have college degrees. Are people without a degree higher than a high school diploma more intelligent?

We all know a college degree is what most jobs require all their applicants to show proof of when applying for a position. For instance, the requirements to join the Los Angeles Police department many years ago only required a high school diploma. Nowadays the LAPD requires  applicants to have a minimum requirement of an A.A. degree or above, preferably above to increase pay and make your way up the ranks (Police officer I, II, II, Sergeant, etc.) an easier task in the department. But should an applicant with a college degree really have more of an advantage than another person without a bachelors in criminal justice? In some respects yes and no. The proof is there, you have a bachelors in whatever it is you studied. But because you know the textbooks, ace all the tests, and study really make an advantage on your part that you will do your job? Do experiences which life puts us through give us a "degree"? If a person thinks he or she knows everything about a subject because of a degree really make them any better than a high-school educated adult? We all know tests need to be taken throughout life to place us in the right classes or right position in the work place. Should a person not be able to take a test for a job only because he or she doesn't have a degree? Example: A Marine from the United States Marine Corps has been with the military branch for 10 years, lets call him Marine 1. He joined the Marines right out of high school with no intentions of obtaining a degree. Marine 1 has gone through 4 rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan.  He has proud fully ranked his way up to a Sergeant II. A Sergeant is usually in charge of a squad, ranging between 6 and 8 Marines. They go out and do there missions as a team. So apparently this Marine has lots of experience. Now another Marine, named Marine 2, has never stepped foot onto the field, so therefore has no experience with combat. But Marine 2 went to college and has a degree as a field technician and graduated top of his class. Marine 2, because of his degree can rank up to lieutenant, which is higher than a Sergeant  II. A lieutenant has more responsibilities and leads people into the right direction where to go in and out of missions safely as in what routes would be safer to take. Marine 1, also wants to rank up but cannot because Marine 2 has taken the spot. Who would have done a better job? Most likely Marine 1 because of his knowledge of war and how it works. This can apply to any job. Just because a person has credentials, doesn't mean he may be better fit to do a job more correctly or as correctly than a person with experience.