Army time, also known as military time, is a 24-hour timekeeping system where the hours of the day are numbered from 00 to 23. It's displayed in four digits, with the first two representing the hour and the last two representing the minutes.
Understanding Military Time
Unlike the 12-hour clock system which uses AM and PM to distinguish between morning and afternoon/evening, military time counts continuously throughout the day. This eliminates any ambiguity, crucial in environments like the military and other organizations where precise communication is essential.
- 0000: Midnight ("zero-hundred")
- 1200: Noon ("twelve-hundred")
- 1300: 1:00 PM ("thirteen-hundred")
- 2359: 11:59 PM ("twenty-three fifty-nine")
Converting Between 12-Hour and Military Time
Converting from 12-Hour to Military Time:
- Midnight to 12:59 AM: Add 0 to the front (e.g., 12:30 AM becomes 0030)
- 1:00 AM to 12:59 PM: Keep the time as is, adding a leading zero if necessary to maintain four digits (e.g., 9:15 AM becomes 0915, 12:30 PM becomes 1230)
- 1:00 PM to 11:59 PM: Add 12 to the hour (e.g., 3:45 PM becomes 1545, 11:00 PM becomes 2300)
Converting from Military Time to 12-Hour Time:
- 0000 to 1159: Use AM and keep the same time, removing the leading zero if necessary (e.g., 0600 becomes 6:00 AM, 1130 becomes 11:30 AM)
- 1200: 12:00 PM (Noon)
- 1300 to 2359: Subtract 12 from the hour and use PM (e.g., 1400 becomes 2:00 PM, 2245 becomes 10:45 PM)
Why Use Military Time?
Military time avoids confusion that can arise from using AM and PM, particularly in critical situations. It provides a standardized and unambiguous way to represent time, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
