# People who use military (24 hour) time... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 28, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082 "2017-10-28T16:51:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/81 "2017-10-31T19:25:00Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Time to check [Wiki.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12-hour_clock) Yes, but that is not why we use it. Most of the world went 24 hr and mainly the British Empire went 12 hour. The wiki article does not have enough information on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/82 "2017-10-31T20:40:03Z")
I use the 24 hour setting on my phone because it is sort of used at my job and I’ve traveled enough outside of the US that I got used to reading it. BUT, the main reason I converted to it was because of one too many times setting my alarm for 6pm when I meant to set it for 6am. Sleep through your alarm and miss a flight or important meeting and you will understand. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/83 "2017-11-01T00:51:44Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > The one time in our lives I failed to use military time, I left a photocopied itinerary that gave a flight return as 7:18pm. My husband failed to notice that it said pm, and showed up at the airport in the morning… Yep, a 24-hour clock is a great way to avoid confusion for air travel, especially with lengthy and complicated itineraries. In Indonesia, people use 12 and 24-hour time pretty interchangeably. I tend to use AM/PM a bit more myself, because that’s all I knew growing up. But the 24-hour system really makes more sense and while I have to think for an extra split-second when I see it, it’s not annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/84 "2017-11-01T03:14:55Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > As an aside, the whole midnight ambiguity is part of the reason why I prefer folks to give midnight deadlines at 11:59PM or 2359, just sidesteps the entire issue (although yes, 0000 is always in the morning, and 2400 is always at night, hypothetically, since I’ve never ever ever seen anything expressed as happening at 2400, not even midnight). I have, when it was a project’s biggest deadline: “the Legacy systems will all be shut down on Sunday at 2400 and we start daily work on the Shiny New System Monday at 00:00:01”. There always seems to be a smartass who quips “and may God have mercy on our souls…” ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/85 "2017-11-01T14:47:40Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > Daylight savings time changes go the opposite way in the southern hemisphere. For example, we have a project with field sites in Chile and Nevada. In Chile, DST changes happen in May and August; in the US they happen in March and November. So we begin the year with Nevada 5 hours behind Chile. In March, Nevada clocks spring forward to get four hours behind. In May, Chilean clocks fall back to make the difference 3 hours. In August, Chile springs forward back to 4 hours. In November, the US falls back and we’re back to five hours difference. > > It also happens with Australia, with the added complication that only some states change their clocks. Throw Arizona into the mix and you get a whole lot of good fun. D’oh! I completely forgot about the season reversal. Of course Chileans would not like a winter DST. Even if you actually live in Arizona it isn’t so [simple](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/us/arizona-no-dst.html). Most of the state does not have DST\* but on the Navajo reservation they do but on the Hopi reservation, entirely within the Navajo reservation, they don’t. A tourist guide recommended when in Indian Country during the summer, the best way to figure out the time is to ask locally. One trip we arrived at the [Hubbell trading post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbell_Trading_Post_National_Historic_Site) too late to get in because we forgot. - For a couple of reasons. We are on the western edge of the Mountain time zone so the sun sets close to 8pm even without it. More important, during the summer, we don’t go out until at least dusk anyway so who needs more of the evil day star. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/86 "2017-11-01T15:04:37Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Amusingly enough, I’m actually in the military (Air Force), and we rarely use 24 hour time except in written/electronic communication. One area where it does come up is for any events taking place in multiple time zones. I can tell you it’s annoying having to figure out what time I’m supposed to call in to a teleconference happening in Alabama at 1PM when I happen to be in Japan. So, the Air Force is considered a real military now? (D&R) On your conference calls, why don’t they post the time in [Zulu](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zones/military) and let you figure out what it is at your location (Juliet)? My three duty stations were Okinawa (India), Iceland (Zulu – ha!) and Maine (Romeo) and after a week or two on station, I could convert to/from Zulu with scarcely a thought. Even now in Arizona (Tango) I can still do it easier than, say, Kabul to Mesa. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/87 "2017-11-01T16:14:29Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Hmmmm, I was under the impression that 24 hour time eliminated the colon from the timekeeping, as in > > 0015 > > 2245 > > etc. > > True? It does in my workplace, at least on some things - the cash register I use runs on 24 hour time and apparently does not believe in decimal points because not only are they not used on the device’s timeclock, it’s not used for money, either. $10.52 is entered as 1052. The wallclocks were the rest of the workforce punch in and out do use a colon when displaying time. My workplace runs on a 24 hour clock because we run 24/7/364 (we close on Christmas). Things can happen at any time of the day or night, so it cuts down on ambiguity, ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/88 "2017-11-01T23:28:37Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > So, the Air Force is considered a real military now? (D&R) > > On your conference calls, why don’t they post the time in [Zulu](https://www.timeanddate.com/time/zones/military) and let you figure out what it is at your location (Juliet)? My three duty stations were Okinawa (India), Iceland (Zulu – ha!) and Maine (Romeo) and after a week or two on station, I could convert to/from Zulu with scarcely a thought. Even now in Arizona (Tango) I can still do it easier than, say, Kabul to Mesa. Wait, you want the Air Force to do something that makes sense? That’s silly. 😃 But yeah, doing everything in Zulu would simplify stuff, at least for doing things across time zones, so I have no idea why I’ve never seen it done that way in the AF. I presume folks who actually fly use Zulu for its intended purpose rather than futz with time zones. On that topic, I really wish I could get my airline itineraries in Zulu. I’m usually scratching my head trying to figure out how long my flights and layovers are because not only is the itinerary not in Zulu, but no time zones whatsoever are given. I usually decide that everything is local time and I have no idea how long any given flight will be until informed on the plane. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/89 "2017-11-02T07:44:07Z")
I use 24h clock everywhere I can including emails, though there I will also write in parentheses the AM/PM version. When speaking English, I don’t generally use it, but I do in other languages because it is in common usage. I also find that looking at schedules in transportation hubs is so much easier this way especially since if there is a significant delay. It also is easier to understand if you are a little inebriated and your cognitive abilities might be a little impaired;) //i\ ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/90 "2017-11-02T15:09:08Z")
I was recently training a new worker who struggled mightily with our 24-hour time notation. Each time it came up she would ask me, “what is 1700?” rather than make any attempt to figure it out herself. On day 3 she said, “I’m going to make me a chart and carry it around with me”. It was as if we were expecting her to learn Nepali. She lasted less than two weeks. mmm ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/91 "2017-11-02T15:11:42Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I was recently training a new worker who struggled mightily with our 24-hour time notation. Each time it came up she would ask me, “what is 1700?” rather than make any attempt to figure it out herself. > > On day 3 she said, “I’m going to make me a chart and carry it around with me”. It was as if we were expecting her to learn Nepali. > > She lasted less than two weeks. > mmm Not being able to subtract 12 in your head is a remarkable failure in an employee. What was the job? I mean if it was marketing, fine I get it, but pretty much anything else? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/92 "2017-11-08T18:40:40Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Not being able to subtract 12 in your head is a remarkable failure in an employee. What was the job? I mean if it was marketing, fine I get it, but pretty much anything else? :smack: On several occasions upon reaching Europe tired and jet-lagged I’ve mistakenly converted 24 hour time to 12 hour time by subtracting 10 instead of 12. And I’m not in marketing. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/93 "2017-11-08T19:34:21Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Anyone who’s ever had a newborn has awakened to a clock reading 7:30 and not been sure which 7:30 it is. Heck, I’ve never had a child and I’ve done this more than once. (In my defense, mostly when ill and sleeping a lot. Once I even called in to my boss’s cell phone all panicky and profoundly apologetic for my lateness. She was very confused, wondering if I felt an urgent need to tell her I had an appointment the next day. I finally paused and sheepishly asked if it was Wednesday. She was much amused. ---
**Author:** ![RetFizz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@RetFizz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetFizz)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/94 "2017-11-09T14:07:48Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > [Partially deleted to save space.] > > Now if you want some real fun, ham radio uses 24 hour time, in UTC. Which is to say that if you are in Texas and having a ragchew with a gentleman in California and another fellow in London, you would all log the same time in your radio logs. No time zones, just Universal Time. As I recall, pilots use the same system for obvious reasons. My reply is really intended for the moderators, who are supposed to give us the Straight Dope. Throughout this thread, you can see references to UTC (==Z or Zulu). UTC is the world time standard, based on many coordinated atomic clocks with occasional corrections for slight variations in the earth’s rotation. You should not be referencing your times to GMT. It’s been obsolete for decades. Since this is my first post, I may have replied on the wrong thread. Possibly I should’ve addressed it to the Master himself, because it applies to the times given at the end of every thread. If that’s true, please forgive me. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082/95 "2017-11-09T16:59:24Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Now here’s my question: > For those of us who do use the 24 hour clock …do you do so in speech, or only in writing? I’ll use it in speech the way 12 hour clock people use “Is that AM or PM?” For instance: Our flight is at nine. - Nine zero zero or twenty-one zero zero? And occasionally when I believe the time will cause confusion. Of course the problem with living with this double system is that the only way to disambiguate six in the morning is to write out “six in the morning”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-use-military-24-hour-time/800082.md?page=4)