RE: ATPL recognition - I think that's stretching it a tad... I learnt a bit from jumping through those hoops that I didn't necessarily get from my RAAF training and experience. Granted some (well, lots...) of it was irrelevant in this day and age, but I doubt anyone will ever get an auto ATPL pass just cause of their mil background.
As for the IRT - that should be cut and dry - got a military IRT, then that should be all you need to fly in the fluffy stuff - make it easy and simply use the same date as your mil IRT, and provided you meet ALL the civil currency and other requirements then you should be good to go.
I have no probs with the knucks flying a bug smasher on the weekend in the gloop - they wouldn't have a problem and they're not keen on killing themselves.
"Nobody's died from pressing..."