Not mil vs civ. Also, Aimpoint changed there LED output on newer models which seem too associate with the newer logo (the one with the small dot in the center of "AimpOint" Feature regression as the LED output is less but drains the same battery as its equivalence to the older output levels. So, "new" model setting 9 is as bright as old model setting 8 and drains the battery like old model setting 9 would.