Welcome to the fray~
Enlisted USAF and also an A&P so I (and others who have similar backgrounds) will tell you that while it's not easy, just keep your eyes on the prize and have (some) fun while doing it!
Sounds like you already set an achievable goal and there will be more people out there willing to help you get it verse the few distractors. Just keep doing what you're doing and when/if you need it, feel free to reach out.

Best wishes and think about keeping a journal and someday publishing it to the crowd, if not just for your kids~
See you on the line in the future-

Always
Motch
FS, FP & FtC