Where should I start throwing my money?

Max out your 401k if you have one. Also create and max out a Roth IRA. Growth, aggressive growth, and international stock mutual funds. Whether you max them all out or not, be consistent in your contributions each month and by age 55-60, you will be a very wealthy man.

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if you qualify get your self an HSA and abuse the hell out of it.

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Over time, The retirement savings accounts are going to be at risk if this country does not get a handle of spending. You can bank on it.

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Does this make longterm investment unsafe for someone at my age?

I apologize for being ignorant, but I am on this: I have not been taught. What exactly is a pension? I am a school teacher and coach. I have benefits, but don't fully understand them to the nth degree, yet.

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Sorry for the 'youngster' question, but I want to be fiscally repsonsible and have a plan better than my current generation friends.

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I am basically living paycheck to paycheck currently, as almost all my extra income goes toward student loans. I am down to about $5,000 total in loans.

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Baby Step 1 - set aside $1000 for emergencies

Baby Step 2 - retire all of your debt, aside from a mortgage on the primary home

Baby Step 3 - save 3 to 6 months of your expenses, should you lose your job.

Those are good places to start.

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My question is after I finish student loan payoff, where do I go next? Savings, 401k, Roth, etc.

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15% of your income in a Roth account. Make sure to max out anything that is matched by your employer.

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What is the bext next move when it comes to long-term security?

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Equities - stocks, mutual funds and (if you can figure them out, ETFs) - over any 20 year period, (even the 1930s and, more recently, the aughts), equities will outperform fixed investments - although timing can occasionally cause you to not realize profits, but you're young, so risk should be a minimal concern, as is your contribution amount.

Another principle to stick to is - steady contributions to your retirement are paramount. As a 25-year old, time in the market is far more important than market timing or how much you contribute. You have 40+ years of compound interest and dollar-cost-averaging to protect you. Budget your retirement like any other expense, with a goal of 15% of your gross income dedicated for that purpose (and if it needs to be 12% or 13%, that's fine, but there better be a good reason - that shiny new cellphone and high monthly plan can cost a young person like yourself $50k, $60k, even more in unrealized retirement savings in 40 years.)

Pay yourself first, avoid consumer (really any unnecessary) debt, plan ahead (emergencies CAN be planned for) and you should do alright.