Ideally, I would like the old contractor to finish/fix his work that they did but Im not sure if it's worth the hassle given our time constraints.

Not to mention trying to do this from a distance.  

Can a long-distance investor be considered materially participating in their STR property?  

Bigger Pockets is a great place to learn and connect with fellow investors.If you’re looking to invest long distance, I definitely recommend building your core-4 team.

If the property is on a boundary or near the edge of a neighborhood you may need to pull the comps within a mile and then pick out the ones in the same neighborhood as the subject property within a reasonable distance.

Revenue potential for cost and potential STR regulations will be prioritized over a long distance value add.  

I work for General Dynamics Electric Boat which has decades long contracts with the US government and the turnover rate is relatively high in the company so my thoughts are if I could choose a place that is within commute distance there and within the price range of the average employee that maybe that could be a great idea but I want to know if people think that is too much of an assumption and risk to make?

Going turnkey is a smart choice given your time constraints, just make sure you have a property management in place to handle the proeprties for you. 

These areas are more affordable and still within driving distance so you can visit and oversee renovations easily.My best tip for BRRRR as a beginner is to build a solid team—make sure you have a reliable contractor, property manager, and lender who understand the strategy. 

If you’re looking to invest long distance, I definitely recommend building your core-4 team.