Who is responsible for setting the time of sounding reveille and retreat?

The responsibility for setting the time of sounding reveille and retreat falls to installation commanders. This is because installation commanders oversee the operations and regulation of the entire installation, which includes the coordination of various daily activities and ceremonies such as the sounding of reveille in the morning and retreat in the evening. They ensure that these traditions are executed in a timely manner, reflecting the military's adherence to discipline and structure.

Unit commanders primarily focus on the specific units they oversee rather than the broader operational framework of the installation. Soldier leadership, while pivotal in enforcing the standards and traditions within their units, does not have authority over the installation-wide schedule. The Army Chief of Staff’s role is more focused on policy and strategic direction across the Army, rather than on the specific operational details of individual installations. Therefore, the installation commander is the appropriate authority for determining these ceremonial times.