In the military, time is often referred to in a 24-hour format, also known as military time. This system eliminates any confusion that may arise from using AM and PM designations. Military time uses a 24-hour clock, starting at midnight (0000 hours) and ending at 23:59 hours, representing midnight of the following day.
The military time chart is a useful tool for quickly converting between standard time and military time. Each hour of the day is represented by a four-digit number, with the first two digits indicating the hour and the last two digits indicating the minutes.
Using the Military Time Chart
To convert standard time to military time, simply add 12 to any PM time after 12:00 PM. For example, 1:00 PM in standard time would be 1300 hours in military time. Conversely, to convert military time to standard time, subtract 12 from any time after 12:00 PM. For instance, 1500 hours in military time would be 3:00 PM in standard time.
It’s important to note that military time does not use a colon to separate hours and minutes, as is common in standard time. Instead, the hour and minute values are simply written together. For example, 2:30 PM in standard time would be written as 1430 hours in military time.
Conclusion
Understanding military time and knowing how to read a military time chart can be beneficial in various situations, especially for those working in fields that require precise timekeeping. By familiarizing yourself with the military time system and practicing conversions, you can quickly and accurately communicate time in a 24-hour format.