BC
I too made the leap from RAF ATCO to civvie a while back, and while the Aerodrome/Approach side of things is quite similar, the Area side is another world entirely - learning to use strips for conflict prediction/resolution will not come easy to you, or anyone, but it can be done. FC/ATC rules are pretty different, but at least you should have experience speaking on the RT - "SHT7Y bingo"
I know a couple of former FCs who are valid Approach or have successfully passed the Area course, so it can be done.
Verdict - get out if you can and go for it. But don't blag about how much better it was in the RAF and "we did it this way" ..etc...etc...
Better if all mil stuff was privatised then you get a common licence and we get more union members and more solidarity. But it'll never happen cos' like you say they can screw mil ATCOs, pay them peanuts and use them as strike-busters.