How does the 1200 - 2400 system of military time differ from the 0 - 2300 system?

Most people are familiar with the traditional time system that runs from 1 A.M. to 12 P.M. But for military personnel and others working in a 24-hour day, there is a different system of time known as the 1200-2400 system or "military time".

The 1200-2400 system of military time assigns specific hours to each hour of the day, from 0001 hours to 2400 hours. It is an easier way to express a single 24 hour period instead of having to specify A.M. or P.M., and it is especially useful for those in active duty, such as military personnel, who need to track time in missions or expeditions. In order to make sure no confusion arises between "0" and "24" when making deadlines, details and shift changes, the military employs this system of time which allows everyone involved to quickly recognize any given hour of the day.

The main difference between the 1200-2400 system and the 0-2300 system is in how they count up the hours in a day and how late night hours are expressed: while the 0-2300 system begins counting at midnight (12:00 am) and goes until 11 PM (23:00 pm); the 1200-2400 system begins at 12 noon (1200) and continues until midnight when it reflects 2400 which stands for zero there after; thus making it easier for one to differentiate between afternoon/night hours without referring back/forth between standard clock times and digital watch times. Whereas every hour after 12 Pm would be represented by 4 digits (13:00 pm would be 1300), in the 1200 - 2400 format only 24 hours of any given day are expressed with 4 digits, i.e., up until 12am (midnight). For example when we reach 1 a.m., 0100 comes into play rather than 2359 or 2500; following that, 200 comes into play at 2 a.m., 300 at 3 am, 400 at 4am, etcetera all until we reach noon which is then expressed as 1200 hrs on 24 hr scale rather than 12 o clock midday on traditional/standard method/format.

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