Have you ever wondered, “What time is it?” and then thought about converting it to military time? Or perhaps you’re unfamiliar with military time altogether and curious about its purpose? You’ve come to the right place! This comprehensive guide will provide you with everything you need to know about military time, also known as astronomical time, including easy-to-understand explanations and practical conversion tips. Military time is based on a 24-hour clock, which is a method of keeping time where the day runs from midnight to midnight and is divided into 24-hour increments. This system is widely used across various sectors worldwide.
Understanding the Military Time Chart
The following chart provides a side-by-side comparison of the 12-hour clock and the corresponding military time. Use it as a quick reference guide for converting between the two systems.
| 12-hour am-pm clock | 24-hour military time |
|---|---|
| 12:00 midnight | 00:00 |
| 1:00 am | 01:00 |
| 2:00 am | 02:00 |
| 3:00 am | 03:00 |
| 4:00 am | 04:00 |
| 5:00 am | 05:00 |
| 6:00 am | 06:00 |
| 7:00 am | 07:00 |
| 8:00 am | 08:00 |
| 9:00 am | 09:00 |
| 10:00 am | 10:00 |
| 11:00 am | 11:00 |
| 12:00 pm | 12:00 |
| 1:00 pm | 13:00 |
| 2:00 pm | 14:00 |
| 3:00 pm | 15:00 |
| 4:00 pm | 16:00 |
| 5:00 pm | 17:00 |
| 6:00 pm | 18:00 |
| 7:00 pm | 19:00 |
| 8:00 pm | 20:00 |
| 9:00 pm | 21:00 |
| 10:00 pm | 22:00 |
| 11:00 pm | 23:00 |
| 12:00 midnight | 24:00 |
Converting to Military Time: A Step-by-Step Guide
In military time, the day begins at midnight, represented as 00:00. The last minute of the day is 23:59. Occasionally, midnight might be written as 24:00. Both formats are correct.
For instance, a timetable showing events from 4:00 pm to 12:00 midnight in standard time would be written as 16:00 – 24:00 in military time. Similarly, 10:15 am remains 10:15 in military time, while 2:30 pm becomes 14:30.
Simple Rules for Military Time Conversion
These two rules will make telling military time easier:
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Morning Hours are the Same: From 1:00 a.m. until 12:59 p.m., the time is identical in both military and civilian time.
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Afternoon Hours: Add 12: To convert any time after 12:59 p.m., add 12 to the hour. For example, 2:00 p.m. is 14:00 (12 + 2 = 14), and 10:00 p.m. is 22:00 (10 + 12 = 22).
That’s all there is to it!
Who Uses Military Time?
Military time is most frequently employed by the military, government agencies, public transportation systems, hospitals, meteorologists, astronomers, emergency services, and computer systems.
When speaking in military time, 07:00 might be verbalized as “zero seven hundred” or “oh seven hundred.” In military documentation, the colon is often omitted, so 07:52 would be written as 0752.
Military Time Chart for quick conversion
An easy-to-use military time chart that provides a quick reference for converting standard time to military time.
Designations and Time Zones
Timestamps that refer to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, often used interchangeably with Coordinated Universal Time/UTC) end with a “Z,” such as 0752Z. Local time is indicated by a “J,” and the Eastern time zone is marked with an “R.” Each time zone has a specific letter and name.
Conclusion: Mastering Military Time
Understanding “what time is it” in military time is simpler than you might think. By grasping the fundamental principles of the 24-hour clock and remembering the straightforward conversion rules, you can easily navigate this system. Whether you work in a field that requires military time or simply want to expand your knowledge, this guide offers a solid foundation. The next time you need to convert standard time to military time, you’ll be prepared to do so with confidence.
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