Learn to Convert Military Time and Read the 24 Hour Clock

Have you ever heard the term 24-hour clock or “Military Time” used and wondered what it meant? There is a difference between the 24-hour and 12-hour clock. The former is usually referred to colloquially as Military Time. Here’s a quick run-down of what you need to know about each one.

If you are like most average people, you will be utterly confused when someone asks you to meet him at 1900 hours or using other military time. What you may not know is that it is easy to read military time, you just have to learn how to convert from 24-hour time to 12-hour time, also called civilian time.

Of course, you don’t have to be a member of the military to learn to read military time. Law enforcement and various hospitals use military time to tell or record time more accurately. Since it is divided into 24 hours, it makes it easier to understand the time without any ambiguity.

An easier way to understand military time is to see it as a 24-hour clock. However, the reason why most people get confused is because they are used to the overwhelmingly popular 12-hour clock which is used as a standard in most English-speaking nations of the world. Even in most English-speaking countries, the military and those in medical profession generally use the 24-hour clock in assigning tasks and documentation to prevent ambiguity. The 24-hour clock is known in the United States as the military time.

You can convert military time to standard time easily via our military time conversion charts. Learn more about military minutes.

This tool simply replaces the 24-hour clock time to civilian tie, or a time you can more easily understand. Don’t be afraid to learn more however. The only reason the 12-hour clock is easier ot understand is because you are used to it. You’ve been using it your entire life most likely. The more you use the 24-hour clock, the more you’ll be familiar with it and the better you’ll understand it.