Charles,
I have never worked for an airline. Never worked out for me and I consider myself not an unhappy person because of that 'failure'. Quite contrary, I sometimes look with disbelief at some companies apparently trying to find the ideal 25 year old candidate with thousands of widebody hours who doesn't need sleep or money and whose fertility is tending towards zero.
Don't pay to fly.
Have some self respect.
Network network network.
Exactly!
Try to knock on doors where military people like you are working and launch a job on a small business jet. What's wrong with starting with a King Air, by the way? It has always been my impression, that former military aviatiors have another appreciation of each other - even if that other guy worked for another country's Air Force, Navy etc..
Good luck!