fokker,
Have you paid for any type rating or just your training upto fatpl?
You were lucky that you may have received a 'golden handshake' from your time in the service of your country to pay for any training you have undertaken. Most people are not that lucky.
Just incase you ask, i paid for my intial training to fatpl, but have always managed to secure employment with a bond. That doesnt mean to say i have always been in work because of my principle of not wishing to pay for 'professional training'