Welcome. Get in a gun safety course since you're new to guns.
Rule #1. Every gun is loaded! That means always keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. If someone hands you a gun always safely check that it's unloaded first. There are a lot more rules but this one is the most important...
Thanks for your service and good luck in New York. I've lived in a lot of places, some I didn't like much. I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. Keep moving and seeing new places and people.