A CESSNA 172 PLT HAD A NEAR MISS WITH AN A10 NEAR NKT.

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ELECTED TO FLY VFR LEG FROM MRH TO EWN. DEP WAS E AND CRUISE ALT WAS 2000 FT DUE VISIBILITY. UPON RADIO CONTACT ATC ISSUED SQUAWK CODE AND REQUESTED WE REMAIN CLR OF CLASS D AIRSPACE AROUND MCAS CHERRY POINT. TURNED N TO GO AROUND THE CLASS D AND CLBED TO 2500 FT WHILE XING NEVSE RIVER ESTUARY. RPTED THIS TO ATC; WHO ADVISED OF 2 A10 TO THE N; NOT A FACTOR. THESE ACFT WERE THEREFORE ON LINE OF BOUNDARY WITH R-5306A. AS WE BEGAN A SLOW COURSE CHANGE TO THE W; WITH SPD OF 100 KTS SAW AN A10 DSNDING TO OUR ALT AT RELATIVELY HIGHER SPD. MANAGED TO TURN L AND DSND WHILE A10 TURNED TO HIS L AND CLBED. RPTED A10 PROX TO ATC; AND SOMEWHAT SHAKEN; WERE GIVEN VECTORS TO NEW BERN; KEEPING US CLR OF CLASS D AND R-5306A. CONCLUSION: DESPITE HAZE; A BETTER OPTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TO CLB OVER THE CLASS D AIRSPACE INSTEAD OF AROUND. BASIC RADAR SVC DOES NOT PROVIDE SEPARATION; AND AS DEMONSTRATED; CAN MISS GIVING A VITAL WARNING. STROBES; BEACON AND LNDG LIGHT IN MY ACFT WERE ON. THIS OBVIOUSLY HELPED; AS A10 WAS MOVING VERY QUICKLY AND AVOIDED OUR C172. THE A10 WAS GRAY COLOR WITH NO VISIBLE LIGHTS.