Welcome Sarge, and I will echo what the other members have said. Use a quality cream or gel and a good razor. HeadSlick and Bald Guyz Ultimate gel are the two tops, and I recommend using a Mach III to begin with, then as you and your scalp get used to shaving, you can try other blades.
If you're worried about irritations, stick to shaving with the grain the first few times.
Good luck, and like the guy's said, stay away from removal creams!
Thanks for your service.
