Free Military Time Charts

Military time charts can be extremely useful in a variety of situations and are often the first reference people make when returning from a deployment. Unfortunately, because they are so detailed, they can also be difficult to read if you don’t have an understanding of the formatting used. Fortunately, there are many helpful resources that can help guide you through writing your own charts, as well as help you find the best charts for your purposes. The following are some writing tips and guidelines to maximize your use of these popular timepieces.

Steps to Create a Military Time Chart:

First, start with a clean slate. It’s easy to become stuck in a rut and start plagiarizing others’ work when you’re working with a template or printable version of a chart. Instead of pulling out old sheets of paper and using them as a template, why not simply print new copies of the charts on new labels from an online source? You’ll be able to access all the information you need, and you can do this whenever you want.

Second, keep it simple. The military isn’t usually in constant combat. Although battles may break out on the battlefield every once in a while, the majority of events and missions will take place on paper. Try to stick to printable versions that provide basic information without getting to the point.

Third, choose a format that will fit on a small printable piece of paper. Although larger time charts look more professional, they might actually be too cumbersome for your purposes. If you must use one on a larger piece of paper, take note that most online sources offer charts in both standard and inverse sizes. This allows you to choose the optimal viewing size for your purposes. It’s also a good idea to print the charts on another sheet of paper so that you can easily flip between the two without any loss of data.

Other Necessary Steps:

Be sure to clearly label each panel. Military charts are used to track several different aspects of an individual’s history. Think carefully about what information is important for each panel before you print them. You’ll want to label the top left-hand corner with the unit’s designation, the middle label with the first battle that took place, the bottom left-hand corner with the final objective (if applicable) for that mission, and finally, the right-hand corner with the unit’s name.

Fifth, avoid overly complicated information. Look for easy-to-read legends and text boxes. If you absolutely must have something colored, choose a more flexible color scheme than black. Navy units often carry green hats and Marine units carry gold hats.

Sixth, print with a glossy finish. The text on printable military time charts should be as white as possible. A high-gloss finish helps make the information easier to read. Also, the font should be smaller than you would typically see on a map or graph.

Seventh, consider buying printable time charts from a third-party vendor. They usually offer more value and variety than your local paper supply store. In addition, you can buy printable time charts online without leaving your home. Third-party vendors also offer helpful tips and instructions for customizing time charts, which may make the process go faster and smoother.

Finally, add photos to the top-right corner of each timesheet. Use a color photo or graphic to visually depict relevant historical events. For example, put a family picture on top of an active zone in your battle zone chronology. Illustrate an important historical development with a photo. Whatever you do, don’t put your photos at the bottom of your timesheet!

Purpose of the Military Time Chart:

Military time charts serve many purposes. They allow you to quickly track your troop movements and missions. They can also be used for a classroom learning environment. Simply input the time zone you are working in, and then use the right chart type to clearly view the day-to-day events taking place in that time zone.

Printable military time charts are a great way to get you on the right track. However, you still need to be sure you’re using the right one. Check the date and time stamp accuracy. Make sure the graphics are easy to read. And most importantly, prints only a few at a time so you don’t end up using too much.