Longstick,
For your sake (as I see one of your previous posts refers to the Tucano), and others reading this thread, beware that the "valid category" to which LASORS refer for QFIs are specifically for SEP QFIs only. It seems that those on Tucanos and Hawks now have to write to the CAA for an assessment. I have known the results that come from such consultations to vary in the past.
Even those on SEPs should beware as it requires a CFS check within the last 12 months whilst the A2, from memory, is valid for 18 months. Therefore pick your time to apply carefully otherwise you may find that "the computer says no".
As far as your question about how military qualifications are regarded. From my experience, in general military QFIs get a great deal of respect in the civilian instructing world as long as they remember that in a civilian school they are dealing with customers and not "Bloggs".