As a cold-blooded business, surely an airline would only make special effort to hire ex-military pilots if there was some direct financial benefit? Perhaps they would be able to squeeze lower premiums from their insurers if they could demonstrate a higher level of flying experience amongst their F/Os than bog-standard pay-to-fly direct entrants?
Regardless of motivation, it's great to see some engagement. May it spread across the rest of the industry in time to make our flying pay pensionable and perhaps generate a new FRI!!