For those unfamiliar with military time, also known as the 24-hour clock, it can seem confusing at first. However, once you understand the concept, it becomes a convenient and efficient way to tell time. Military time is used by the military, emergency services, and in many countries around the world. It eliminates the need for AM and PM designations, making it easier to avoid confusion, especially in critical situations.
To read a military time chart, simply understand that the day is divided into 24 hours, starting at midnight (00:00) and ending at 23:59. The hours are represented as four digits, with the first two digits indicating the hour and the last two digits indicating the minutes. For example, 8:00 AM is represented as 0800 in military time, while 8:00 PM is represented as 2000. To convert regular time to military time, simply add 12 to any time after 12:00 PM.
Common Military Time Conversions
Here are some common conversions to help you better understand military time:
- 12:00 AM = 0000
- 1:00 AM = 0100
- 12:00 PM = 1200
- 1:00 PM = 1300
- 6:00 PM = 1800
- 11:00 PM = 2300