How do I get back into the dating world?

Hey, I know this may sound weird but I've been dating my ex boyfriend since I was 12... now I am 18. Its been 3 months since we broke up and I am not exactly sure what happened... he got upset cause I was upset and said "Iam going into the military, so... I don't want there to be distance... It's over. We're over. Go find yourself a nice guy , you deserve that." And yeah, I know, Iam 'young and fresh' but I was not planning on dating when I was 12, nor was I planning on dating him for the next 6 years but I never really learned how I would go about getting someone because I was with my boyfriend the whole time so I never really bothered with anyone else. I still love him, and maybe I should wait ... everything is telling me to wait, but I don't want to wait till the day I see him get married... He is still my best friend, I still adore him, and the pain is still there... but should I listen to him and find a new guy? and if so whats a good way for me to find a guy.