To answer your questions in the original post...Yes/No on the foreign carriers. Emirates and Korean will not honor your military flying time. Not sure what your target carrier would be but I’ve found that of the ones I’ve asked about, military time isn’t considered in their mins. (Don’t know why, but it seems that having people behind you reading the newspaper is more important somehow? Have to do your homework.)
“...my commitment should be up in a year or so.” From talking to those in the business now and trolling these aviation type forums, you are lined up for success for the later part of 2013. You just have to realize it on your own, (like everyone is saying, network, resumes, applications, types, medical, etc. get it all in order. Have to “realize” it on your own. The spoon fed military approach doesn’t work here.)
Back to your question/comments in the post, “...because of the instability of the job market.” Yep, true in the past, got that one right. Future, I think you’ll actually see increased stability for a while. Does that mean EVERYONE will be hiring, no, but there are going to be more opportunities presenting themselves than in the past and once again, only you can realize that. (If you’re dead set on SWA, that one might not work out for a while. Do your homework. Ex: How does SWA’s acquisition of Airtran and subsequent letting of the 717’s effect their ‘pilot mobility in the near term? 3 years? 5 years? Do your homework on your target airlines, foreign and domestic.)
Most importantly, remember this: 99.9% of Americans don't have a military retirement. Is it nice...Hell yeah...Is it necessary? Well, lets just say that thousands of people retire everyday without it, just have to make the right decisions along the way too. You know what you want to do, just do your homework. It'll work out.