It can be confusing at first for civilians to understand time based on 24-hour intervals rather than a total of twelve repeating am and pm hours. This system of time eliminates any misunderstanding so that military personnel know clearly and precisely what time is indicated. Military Time is a time format using a 24 Hour Time system that eliminates the need for the designations A.M. Military Time is sometimes referred to as 24 Hour Time but this is incorrect. They are similar, but have nuance that can’t be skipped. Military time is a term that specifically refers to the way time is measured in the U.S., and it’s typically used by people working on military bases, such as ones overseas. Your Swedish grandfather will arrive at your local airport at 4 p.m., and you would like to give him the military time so he is not confused. Military time is based on a 24-hour clock, which is why the numbers on the clock go from 00 to 23. The United States, however, uses the 12-hour clock, which is why the numbers do not go past 12, and the “a.m.” and “p.m.” must be used. The military observes Daylight Savings Time when it is recognized by the state or country where the time zone is being used. “The Commander wants to see you at fifteen hundred (1500) hrs,” means you need to be in the Commander’s office at three p.m., local time. When using local time, the Military observes Daylight Savings Time, if recognized by the state or country that the base is located in. When you first hear someone in the military give you the time, you may have to pause a few seconds and do the quick math in order to determine the time of day. UTC, the central and most widely used time zone, is assigned the letter Z and is pronounced Zulu time. Commercial pilots also use the 24-hour clock to avoid misunderstandings. Lewis & Clark Young Marines uses military time quite often. This can be confusing for parents with no military experience. We have compiled some information that may help you.