Love your mindset—real estate is a long game, and you're starting with the right attitude!

It sounds like you have a great background for investing as well as assisting other real estate investors in buying suitable real estate. 

BP is a great place to connect and meet real estate investors and professionals.

@Dan ShuderRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

I'd check local STR FB groups and see if you have a local Real Estate Club.You can offer your services there, maybe for free in exchange for the experience.

Given your mobility for duty posts you can really ramp up your real estate portfolio while serving.Every time they got stationed somewhere they would purchase a property to live in using their VA and house hack.

They took a long time to respond to emails.As you embark on or continue your business buying journey in the new year, I know you are going to see more opportunities come your way and experience more success if you can remember this lesson.Between 1981 and 1999 I purchased 8 businesses, while also being a part time real estate investor.  

I find new lending opportunities by networking at local RE Meetups, Training Classes and real estate functions.   

You then find a cash buyer/real estate investor to buy it from you for $120,000.

.: When I started I moved to where real estate was the cheapest in the country.