Hi Tom! Welcome to SRP! We love having Armed Forces members here! You came to the right place to get answers to your questions. May I suggest you head on over to the Wiki section for beginners? There's great info for new members/shavers there that will address many of your concerns.
Although I've never used any of their wares, Dovo makes a fine razor. Many members here suggest them for rookies. Mr. Lynn Abrams (this site's founder) and many senior members here recommend that rookies use a 6/8 for a starter due to their being easier for rookies to control. I can personally vouch for Mr. Abrams' integrity as I've done business with him recently and found him to be a person of first-rate character.
I strongly urge you to get a 3" strop, but not an expensive one because in all likelihood you will ultimately ruin it. Many first-time SR users do (myself included). A vendor here (sorry, I can't recall his name at this late hour--can someone else chime in and help out please?) sells a 3" latigo strop called either a "Poor Man's" or "Poor Boy's" starter kit. Many here have found it to be a very good deal for the money.
Brushes and soaps are largely based on personal preferences. Badger brushes have so many different grades and manufacturers that it can get confusing. Many shavers, myself included, use a boar's hair brush (I like my brush to be a little stiffer, whereas badger brushes tend to be softer, with the absolute top-of-the-line ones can feel like a the shadow of a cloud crossing your face). Soaps: so many!! Part of the fun of this activity is trying new things, be they different brushes, soaps, hones, razors, strops, techniques, etc.
Again, welcome to SRP. You came to the right place!