Ultimately I would like to 1031 exchange for a nice-sized apartment complex somewhere to supplement my retirement income from the Navy by the time retirement hits in the next 15 years.

We got started buy buying personal properties and than renting them out when we were transferred (husband active duty Navy).

Hey Connor,I see you're Navy as well (I'm assuming you're an SNA like myself).

Go Navy.

I was able to attend university, by traded 5-years of service in the Navy for my engineering studies. 

That being said being active duty does have some terrific benefits and this is the one of "join the navy, see the world buy real estate on the BAH dime"

I am active duty Navy and looking at moving in the same direction you are in real estate investing in the Columbia, SC area. 

I actually had to use some documentation from the SCRA when I got out of the navy and Wells Fargo was trying to foreclose on me.  

Just like my bio says i'm currently getting out of the NAVY and am very interested in learning more about real estate investing and tricks of the trade to make my first goal of owning a multi-person home near a college campus a successful venture. 

You should also start listening to the podcasts (if you are not already) and surfing the forums for info on how other people pulled it off.As for me, I did both:  I have a career with the Navy and used that money, plus some borrowed from family, to start off flipping houses with my wife.