Military Time Guide – The 24 Hour Clock
Have you ever wondered how to read military time quickly and easily? Or even wondered what it is, or why it exists? Welcome to your comprehensive guide on military time! On this page, you will find everything you need to know about military time (also known as the 24-hour clock or astronomical time), along with quick and easy tips on how to read and convert it.
Military time is based on a 24-hour clock and is a method of keeping hours in which the day runs from midnight to midnight and is divided into 24 hour increments. It is the most commonly used time notation in the world, particularly in aviation, healthcare, military operations, and international communications.
Easy to Read Military Time Chart
A side-by-side comparison of standard 12-hour clock times and their corresponding military/24-hour clock times. You may use this as a military time converter or reference it as a military time conversion chart.
| 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 noon | 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 |
| 11:59 pm | 23:59 |
How to Read Military Time
When keeping hours in this fashion, the day starts at midnight and is written as 00:00. The last minute of the day is written as 23:59, or one minute before the next midnight. Sometimes you may see 00:00 written as 24:00. Both are acceptable, though 00:00 is more common.
Example: A time table showing 4:00 pm to 12:00 midnight in military time would be written as 16:00 – 24:00. Another example highlighting the difference would be that 10:15 am is written as 10:15 in military time, but 2:30 pm is written as 14:30.
Quick Conversion Tips
There are only two simple rules to remember when converting to military time:
- Morning hours remain the same: 1:00 am is 01:00, and this holds true all the way up to 12:59 pm.
- For afternoon/evening hours: Simply add 12 to the hour. For example, 2:00 pm becomes 14:00 (12+2=14), and 10:00 pm becomes 22:00 (10+12=22).
That’s it! With these two rules, you can convert any time to military format.
Common Uses of Military Time
This method of keeping time is most commonly used by various professional and organizational sectors including:
- Military and Armed Forces: To eliminate confusion during operations and communications
- Aviation and Aerospace: Pilots, air traffic controllers, and flight schedules
- Healthcare: Hospitals and medical facilities to prevent medication errors
- Emergency Services: Police, firefighters, and paramedics
- Public Transportation: Train and bus schedules worldwide
- Government Agencies: For official documentation and operations
- Computing and Technology: Timestamps and system logs
- Meteorology and Astronomy: Weather reports and astronomical observations
Speaking Military Time
When speaking military time, there are specific conventions to follow. The time 07:00 may be stated as “zero seven hundred” or “oh seven hundred”. Similarly, 14:30 would be spoken as “fourteen thirty”.
Important Note: In military contexts, time stamps are often written without the colon. For example, 07:52 would be written as 0752. This format is standard in military communications and documentation.
Time Zone Notation
Military and international operations use letter designations for time zones:
- “Z” (Zulu Time): Denotes Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Example: 0752Z
- “J” (Juliet Time): Denotes local time
- “R” (Romeo Time): Denotes Eastern Time Zone
Each of the world’s time zones has a corresponding letter designation and name for clear international communication.
Why Use Military Time?
The 24-hour clock system offers several significant advantages over the 12-hour format:
- Eliminates AM/PM confusion: No ambiguity about morning versus evening times
- Prevents errors: Critical in healthcare, aviation, and military operations where timing mistakes can have serious consequences
- International standard: Most countries use the 24-hour clock, making it essential for global communication
- Simplifies scheduling: Easier to calculate time differences and durations
- Clearer documentation: Written records are unambiguous and universally understood
Practice Examples
Convert to Military Time:
- 3:45 pm → 15:45 (add 12 to 3)
- 8:20 am → 08:20 (morning stays the same)
- 11:59 pm → 23:59 (add 12 to 11)
- 12:30 am → 00:30 (midnight hour)
Convert from Military Time:
- 16:45 → 4:45 pm (subtract 12 from 16)
- 09:15 → 9:15 am (already morning)
- 21:00 → 9:00 pm (subtract 12 from 21)
- 00:45 → 12:45 am (midnight hour)
Master military time with practice, and you’ll soon find it becomes second nature. The 24-hour clock is an invaluable skill for professional and personal use.