This is a good strategy you could deploy right away.

Overall I would say property purchase and real estate will set you up for a more fruitful future, but I would still put a little in an account to use as self directed in the future, or cash out when you can to deploy on paying off a rental or buying more when you are of age. 

I was deployed or TDY for literally half my stay in NY, so the renovations felt rushed sometimes, ruining some of the fun.

I am also a veteran of two deployments to Iraq serving this great nation.

This will help you a ton in circumstances where you're deployed or training for an extended period of time with limited communications. 

Sellers needed flexible closing date since their son's deployment was still TBD when we negotiated the deal.

How much money do you have that you're comfortable deploying into real estate investments?

While the most secure position to take is a 1st TD and note attached to the property, there are others creative strategies to deploy capital into a project. 

I have saved up some capital that I would like to deploy over the next couple years in a few properties.

Joined military 2019 deployed, came back and bought a single family home in 2021 using VA loan.