Lieutenant colonel

Common military ranks in English
Navies	Armies	Air forces
Commissioned officers
Admiral of the fleet	Marshal or Field marshal	Marshal of the air force
Admiral	General	Air chief marshal
Vice admiral	Lieutenant general	Air marshal
Rear admiral	Major general	Air vice-marshal
Commodore	Brigadier or Brigadier general	Air commodore
Captain	Colonel	Group captain
Commander	Lieutenant colonel	Wing commander
Lieutenant commander	Major or Commandant	Squadron leader
Lieutenant	Captain	Flight lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant	Lieutenant or First lieutenant	Flying officer
Ensign	Second lieutenant	Pilot officer
Midshipman	Officer cadet	Officer cadet
Enlisted grades
Warrant officer or Chief petty officer	Warrant officer or Sergeant major	Warrant officer
Petty officer	Sergeant	Sergeant
Leading seaman	Corporal	Corporal
Seaman	Private	Aircraftman

Lieutenant colonel (UK /lɛfˈtɛnənt ˈkɜːrnəl/ LEF-ten-ƏNT-_-KUR-nəl, US /luːˈtɛn-/ loo-TEN--) is a rank of commissioned officer 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. 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. A lieutenant colonel is typically in charge of a battalion or regiment in the army.

Lieutenant colonel ranks by country

The following articles deal with the rank of lieutenant colonel

• Lieutenant-colonel (Canada)
• Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)
• Lieutenant colonel (United States)
• Lieutenant colonel (Bangladesh)

Gallery

Army

• Bangladesh-army-OF-4.svg

  Bangladesh Army
  (Lieutenant Colonel)

• 

  Belgian Army
  (Luitenant-kolonel
  Lieutenant-colonel)

• Tenente-Coronel-V.gif

  Brazilian Army
  (Tenente Coronel)

• British Army OF-4.svg

  British Army
  (Lieutenant Colonel)

• Canadian Army OF-4.svg

  Canadian Army
  (Lieutenant Colonel)

• 

  Danish Army
  (Oberstløjtnant)

• Army France OF4 V.png

  French Army
  (Lieutenant colonel)

• OF04 Heer.png

  German Army
  (Oberstleutnant)

• 

  Indian Army (Lieutenant Colonel)

• 17-TNI Army-LTC.svg

  Indonesian Army
  (Letnan Kolonel)

• 

  Italian Army
  (Tenente colonnello)

• 

  Royal Netherlands Army
  (Luitenant-Kolonel)

• Norway-army-OF-4.svg

  Norwegian Army
  (Oberstløytant)

• 

  Philippine Army
  (Kalakan/Teniente coronel)

• 

  Portuguese Army
  (Tenente Coronel)

• Spain-Army-OF-4.svg

  Spanish Army
  (Teniente Coronel)

• US Army O5 (Army greens).svg

  United States Army
  (Lieutenant Colonel)

• Russia-Army-OF-4-1994-field.svg

  Russian Army

• TCNELEJB-GNB.png

  Venezuela

Air Force

• 

  Belgian Air Force
  (Luitenant-kolonel
  Lieutenant-colonel)

• 

  Danish Air Force
  (Oberstløjtnant)

• Netherlands-AirForce-OF-4.svg

  Royal Netherlands Air Force
  (Luitenant-Kolonel)

• Norway-air force-OF-4.svg

  Norwegian Air Force
  (Oberstløytant)

• 

  Philippine Air Force
  (Kalakan/Teniente Coronel)

• Russia-AirForce-OF-4-1994-parade.svg

  Russian Air Force

See also

• Comparative military ranks
• Canadian Forces ranks and insignia
• British Army officer rank insignia
• United States Army officer rank insignia