Ex-forces, with appropriate experience, because that experience brings with it a significant likelyhood of safer operations in what, to most civvies, is an alien environment - that's not to say that all civvie pilots are no good, as a number have stepped up to the plate in recent years.
There's a separate issue, which goes with the debate started by this thread, that of the ex-police DUEO salary relfecting a pension. Pilot pay has, sadly & for many years, reflected the fact that most of the ex-military pilots are in receipt of a pension - somewhat grating to those who haven't!!
