Next thing I did was find another mentor that specializes in underwriting.

Both of us have served in the military thus can use the VA home loan if need be.

You can buy houses with credit cards, but have to convert the money into cash, which costs many percentage points (unless you have a special offer from the specific CC), but once you convert to cash, you lose the points associated with spending the money.However, I do run all of my rehab projects through credit cards, and frequently have tens of thousands of dollars running through those little puppies.

He is a fully disabled military veteran and his disability compensation exceeds our income requirements for this property.

As a fellow investor myself I'd like to give a bit of advise when it comes to condo's specially as to where short term rentals are concerned. 

I am a Union Carpenter/Contractor, and I can't count the number of ramps, decks, doors, egress windows, and roofs we have done for our disabled military.

Team up with a CPA (Certified Professional Accountant) that specializes in Real Estate taxes.

Set up some keyword alerts on the forums here to get alerts on things you are specifically wanting to learn (maybe start with: military, VA loan, newbie, first investment, a city or state you are interested in). 

To create the ability to full retire when I leave the military at the age of 43.

You want a surgeon that specializes in the kind of surgery you need, not a general practitioner.