Welcome to the BYC. You seem like a no nonsense kind of guy. I like that. The one thing I would say is find breeders of the birds you choose. Hatcheries are great for variety and if you want a good egg supply. They tend to want the egg side of production more than the meat side. It is how they make money. The more eggs produced, the more chicks they can hatch and sell. Breeders on the other hand generally strive for the perfect balance set forth in the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection. You will therefore get a more productive, balanced, healthy flock in the end. I would also throw my two cents in there.......the buckeye, in my opinion, is the perfect dual purpose breed. Around 180-220 eggs a year while also giving a great carcass for eating. Not to mention the vibrant color in the yard as well. And they have also been around since 1904. Chicke them out here on byc at https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/803253/the-buckeye-thread/2980 I wish you all the best in your quest for self sustainability. And I also want to thank you for your service to our country. It means a lot to me.