If it is 5:30 PM, how is this time written in military format?

In military time, the hours are expressed on a 24-hour clock rather than the standard 12-hour format used in civilian time. For the time 5:30 PM, you first convert the hour from the 12-hour format to the 24-hour format. Since there are 12 hours in the AM and the PM hours simply add 12 to the hour (with the exception of 12 PM which remains 12), 5 PM becomes 17 hours when converted.

Then you retain the minutes as they are. Therefore, 5:30 PM is represented as 17:30 in military time, which simplifies to 1730 when written without a colon. This clarity in notation helps prevent confusion that could arise from interpreting times in different contexts, particularly in military operations, where precision is critical.

Understanding this conversion process is essential for effective communication within military settings, enhancing operational efficiency.