Introduction:

Military time, also known as the 24-hour clock, is a method of timekeeping primarily used by the military, emergency services, and various industries around the world. This system eliminates any confusion that could arise from using the 12-hour clock format (AM/PM) by representing each hour with a unique number between 00 and 23. In this article, we will outline seven simple steps to help you understand and tell military time.

Step 1: Familiarize yourself with the concept

Military time uses a continuous count of 24 hours, starting from midnight (00:00) and ending at 23:59. There are no AM or PM designations in this system. It’s essential to understand that military time is based on a 24-hour cycle rather than two sets of 12 hours.

Step 2: Know the conversion basics

To convert standard time to military time, follow these guidelines:

– For times between 1:00 AM and noon (12:59 PM), simply remove the colon and add a zero before hours less than ten.

– For times between noon (12:00 PM) and midnight (11:59 PM), add 12 to the hour and remove the colon.

Step 3: Converting standard morning hours to military time

To convert standard morning hours (1:00 AM – 11:59 AM), remove the colon from between the hours and minutes. For single-digit hours, add a leading zero. For example,

– 7:30 AM becomes 0730.

– 11:45 AM becomes 1145.

Step 4: Converting standard afternoon and evening hours to military time

To convert standard afternoon or evening hours (12:00 PM – 11:59 PM), add “12” to each hour number over twelve. Then, remove the colon from between the hours and minutes.

– 2:15 PM becomes 1415 (2+12 = 14).

– 10:30 PM becomes 2230 (10+12 = 22).

Step 5: Midnight and noon in military time

Midnight is represented as 0000 in military time, and noon is represented as 1200.

Step 6: Converting military time back to standard time

To convert military time back to standard time, follow these guidelines:

– For times between 0000 and 1159, add a colon between the hours and minutes and add an “AM” designation.

– For times between 1200 and 2359, subtract twelve from the hour, add a colon between the hours and minutes, and add a “PM” designation.

Step 7: Practice regularly

Familiarity with military time comes with regular practice. Try converting standard times to military times and vice versa until it becomes second nature.

Conclusion:

Mastering how to tell military time may seem challenging at first but following these seven steps will make it easier. Whether you are in a professional setting that demands knowledge of military time or simply looking for an alternative way to track time, this skill can be advantageous in various situations.