Making the transition from Army hiking to civilian backpacking meant that I had a 65 pound pack on my first trip, and thought it was really light. Entrenching tool, K-bar knife, huge stove, two large fuel bottles, heavy clothing, etc. For a 4-day sub-20 mile hike in late May in Virginia.

Your skills and comfort in the woods will translate easily. However, I would suggest starting with a blank sheet of paper when it comes to making a packing list. Check out some of the pack lists on this site. You don't want to start super-ultralight, but I'd suggest avoiding the 65-pound pack. For a late spring weekend trip in Kentucky, I'd be looking for a total pack weight around 30 pounds, including food and a couple of liters of water. That's a good target, and if you miss by a few pounds, so what. You can certainly carry some of your military gear to start.

If you can find a local hiking club, that might be a great place to meet other hikers and get out on trips in the area.