Lieutenant colonel

Military rank
Comparative military ranks
Armies,
air forces
(non-Commonwealth)
Navies,
coast guard
Air forces
(Commonwealth system)
Flag commissioned officers
Field marshal Admiral of the fleet Marshal of the air force
General or
colonel general or
army general
Admiral Air chief marshal
Lieutenant general or
army corps general
Vice admiral Air marshal
Major general or
divisional general
Rear admiral or
Counter admiral
Air vice-marshal
Brigadier or
brigadier general
Commodore or
flotilla admiral
Air commodore
Senior commissioned officers
Colonel (Ship-of-the-Line)
Captain
Group captain
Lieutenant colonel Frigate captain or
Commander
Wing commander
Major or
commandant
Corvette captain or Lieutenant
commander
Squadron leader
Junior commissioned officers
Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant
First lieutenant or
lieutenant
Lieutenant
junior grade or
sub-lieutenant
Flying officer
Second lieutenant or
junior lieutenant
Ensign or
midshipman
Pilot officer
Officer cadet Officer cadet Flight cadet
Non-commissioned officers
Warrant officer or
sergeant major
Warrant officer or
chief petty officer
Warrant officer
Sergeant Petty officer Sergeant
Enlisted ranks
Corporal or
bombardier
Leading seaman Corporal
Lance corporal or
Lance bombardier or
Specialist
Able seaman Leading aircraftman
Private or
gunner or
trooper or
sapper
Seaman Aircraftman or
airman or
aviator
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Lieutenant colonel (UK: /lɛfˈtɛnənt ˈkɜːrnəl/ lef-TEN-ənt KUR-nəl, US: /lˈtɛn-/ loo-TEN-) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence. Sometimes, the term 'half-colonel' is used in casual conversation in the British Army.[1] In the United States Air Force, the term 'light bird' or 'light bird colonel' (as opposed to a 'full bird colonel') is an acceptable casual reference to the rank but is never used directly towards the rank holder.[citation needed] A lieutenant colonel is typically in charge of a battalion or regiment in the army.

The following articles deal with the rank of lieutenant colonel:

  • Lieutenant-colonel (Canada)
  • Lieutenant colonel (Eastern Europe)
  • Lieutenant colonel (Pakistan)
  • Lieutenant colonel (Turkey)
  • Lieutenant colonel (Sri Lanka)
  • Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)[2]
  • Lieutenant colonel (United States)

Gallery

Army

Air Force

Other services

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lieutenant colonels.
  1. ^ Bonn, Keith E. (2005). Army Officer's Guide (50th ed.). Mechanicsville, Pa.: Stackpole Books. p. 14.
  2. ^ "Officers' rank insignia". British Army. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008.
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