.- Educate veterans about all the tech and operations jobs the industry has to offer. 

You should have a pretty decent idea of what homes are worth/what places are renting for and you can make an educated decision from there.

Bigger Pockets is a great place for education and networking and is full of great content.I recommend that you check out the following resources:1.

If you find yourself saying "I am new to real estate", then you do need some time to educate yourself (BiggerPockets is great for that) and plan your first investment carefully before jumping in.Remember, buying a traditional rental is one of many different ways you can enter REI world.

My gf wants to pivot and rent the house while we live in the condo, but my brother is not educated and is afraid of being a landlord.

EDUCATE YOURSELF - yes, it will take time, but will lead to a selection that better meets your expectations & avoids potentially costly surprises!

Specifically, I'm wondering about the best first steps for education and whether getting a real estate license would be beneficial.

We take ethics classes, and continuing education classes, and constant training to stay up to date with rule changes. 

The concepts are the same with BTC, you just need to educate and understand your options.

We are looking at what's next and want to absorb all the information we can to make the most educated decision on our moves.