That is my back ground along with being in education since 2010.

It is education-oriented (i.e., doesn't try to sell you stuff) and I've been attending the group since 2003 and recommend it.

Try educating yourself.

I got my real estate license in my late 20's, kept updated on continuing education, but only activated the license after all my kids started school. 

I wanted to introduce myself as I am incredibly anxious to step foot into the incredible world of REI and would love to know if there are any local investors that meet/would like to meet on a semi-regular basis.I currently have a full time job in outside sales in the Arvada area so I do a lot of driving around which enables me to spend a lot of my time listening to podcasts and educating myself but I would love to get to know some players within my local area to really dive deep into the subject and in which I could potentially be of value in the future.

Additionally, I am already on a mentorship/education program for multifamily (syndications) and I already have an LLC and business set up for this strategy in real estate.

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

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.

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

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.