Have you ever wondered why there’s a need to use military time zones? There are certain institutions, like hospitals and law enforcement agencies, that continues to use military time instead of the more common AM/PM system. Learn why military time zones are essential and how they can help you here.
Mastering Military Time Zones | All You Need to Know
Who Uses Military Time Zones?
The military, hospitals, law enforcement, and other official organizations all generally use military time because it is more precise and less prone to errors. This is in contrast to the majority of the population, who all tend to use AM/PM timekeeping. However, as divisive as these systems may seem, both formats are generally accepted around the world.
What Are Military Time Zones?
Military time represents hours differently than standard civilian time does. Regular time uses 1-12, marking the difference between night and day with AM/PM. In contrast, military time uses 0 to 23 to express all the hours in a day uniquely. Midnight is written as 00:00, not 24:00. Also, each hour represents a phonetic name, with Alpha equivalent to 01:00, Bravo to 02:00, and so on with J skipped.
When Is Military Time Used?
With the world utilizing both timekeeping methods, the 24-hour system is often used in scheduling, while the 12-hour system is used for conversation. Research says using military time makes you manage your time much better, especially when calculating the duration of an event.
Where Did Military Time Originate?
During the Early Egyptian era, they used crude sundials and a duodecimal system to track the course of the sun and measure how long a day was. 12, it turns out, was the magic number, as it equaled the amount of time when the sun was no longer visible. Thanks to this discovery, it was discovered there are 24 hours in a day.
Why Is Military Time More Efficient?
In addition to avoiding timekeeping confusion, military time is also much easier to calculate. This is thanks to its clear time delineation, as it drops the AM/PM monikers that separate morning and evening. Additionally, you don’t have to rely on the terms noon and midnight, since 12:59 proceeds to 13:00, and 23:59 to 00:00, which translates to the start of a new day.
How to Use Military Time?
The general idea of military time is that it uses a 24-hour clock to determine the time. A simple way of converting an military time to the AM/PM system is to simply deduct 12 whenever the clock hits the PM mark. That means 14:00 is equivalent to 2:00 PM. Fortunately, regular and military time use the same minutes. Still, don’t confuse military time with decimal hours (i.e. 8:77), as this system is totally different in terms of conversion.
For a more comprehensive understanding of military time zones, check out this video by Rabid Puffin:
Memorizing the military time zones definitely has its perks. It allows you to relay time accurately and understand official institutions timekeeping methods. Now that you’ve mastered this skill, it’s time to check out this article to familiarize yourself with the different time zones in the United States.
Do you find using military time zones easier? Sound off in the comments below!
Up Next: Jet Lag Cures for Crossing Time Zones
Let Us Know What You Think