Lieutenant colonel ( , ) 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
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...
. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...
. 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
A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions ...
or
regiment
A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation.
In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...
in the army.
The following articles deal with the rank of lieutenant colonel:
*
Lieutenant-colonel (Canada)
*
Lieutenant colonel (Eastern Europe)
*
Lieutenant colonel (Turkey)
Yarbay is the Turkish military rank of lieutenant colonel.
In normal circumstance they serve 3 years (shorter than others) because of ''preparation rank''. In the Turkish Army (Kara Kuvvetleri) and Turkish Gendarmerie (Jandarma) they serve as ba ...
*
Lieutenant colonel (Sri Lanka)
The following tables present the ranks and insignia of the Sri Lanka Army. The ranks are similar to the British army officer ranks and the other ranks.
At its formation in 1949, the Ceylon Army adopted the rank structures of the British Army.
...
*
Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)
*
Lieutenant colonel (United States)
Gallery
Army
File:Bangladesh-army-OF-4.svg, Bangladesh Army
(''Lieutenant Colonel'')
File:Army-BEL-OF-04.svg, Belgian Army
(
)
File:Tenente-Coronel-V.gif, Brazilian Army
()
File:Canadian Army OF-4.svg, Canadian Army
The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also respo ...
(''Lieutenant Colonel'')
File: CzArmy 2011 OF4-Podplukovnik shoulder.svg, Czech Army
()
File:Rank insignia of oberstløjnant of the Royal Danish Army.svg, Danish Army
()
File:Army France OF4 V.png, French Army
History
Early history
The first permanent army, paid with regular wages, instead of feudal levies, was established under Charles VII of France, Charles VII in the 1420 to 1430s. The Kings of France needed reliable troops during and after the ...
()
File:OF04 Heer.png, German Army
()
File:Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.svg, Indian Army
The Indian Army is the Land warfare, land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Arm ...
(''Lieutenant Colonel'')
File:17-TNI Army-LTC.svg, Indonesian Army
()
File:IT-Army-OF4.svg, Italian Army
"The safeguard of the republic shall be the supreme law"
, colors =
, colors_labels =
, march = ''Parata d'Eroi'' ("Heroes's parade") by Francesco Pellegrino, ''4 Maggio'' (May 4) ...
()
File:Nl-landmacht-luitenant kolonel.svg, Royal Netherlands Army
()
File:Norway-army-OF-4.svg, Norwegian Army
()
File:Lt. Colonel Pakistan Army.jpg, alt=Pakistan Army Lieutenant Colonel, Pakistan Army (Lieutenant Colonel)
File:PA LTC Svc.svg, Philippine Army
(/)
File:17 - Tenente-coronel.svg, Portuguese Army
()
File:Russia-Army-OF-4-1994-field.svg, alt=, Russian Ground Forces
The Russian Ground Forces (russian: Сухопутные войска �ВSukhoputnyye voyska V}), also known as the Russian Army (, ), are the land forces of the Russian Armed Forces.
The primary responsibilities of the Russian Ground Force ...
()
File:Spain-Army-OF-4.svg, Spanish Army
()
File:British Army OF-4.svg, British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurkha ...
(United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
)
(''Lieutenant Colonel'')
File:US Army O5 (Army greens).svg, United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...
('' Lieutenant Colonel'')
File:TCNELEJB-GNB.png, Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
()
Air Force
File:BE-Air Force-OF4.svg, Belgian Air Force
The Belgian Air Component ( nl, Luchtcomponent, french: Composante air) is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces, and until January 2002 it was officially known as the Belgian Air Force ( nl, Belgische Luchtmacht; french: Force aérienne belg ...
(
)
File:RDAF Lt Col.svg, Danish Air Force
The Royal Danish Air Force ( da, Flyvevåbnet, lit=The Flying weapon) (RDAF) is the aerial warfare force of The Kingdom of Denmark and one of the four branches of the Danish Defence. Initially being components of the Army and the Navy, it was ...
()
File:Netherlands-AirForce-OF-4.svg, Royal Netherlands Air Force
()
File:Norway-air force-OF-4.svg, Norwegian Air Force
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) ( no, Luftforsvaret, , The Air Defence) is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian Armed Forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peacetime establishment is approximatel ...
()
File:PAF LTC Svc.svg, Philippine Air Force
(/)
File:Russia-AirForce-OF-4-1994-parade.svg, alt=, Russian Air Force
()
File:US Air Force O5 shoulderboard.svg, United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Si ...
('' Lieutenant Colonel'')
Other services
File:US Space-force O5 (interim).svg, United States Space Force
('' Lieutenant Colonel'')
See also
*
Comparative military ranks
*
Canadian Forces ranks and insignia
*
British Army officer rank insignia
*
United States Army officer rank insignia
References
{{Authority control
Military ranks
Military ranks of Singapore
Military ranks of the Nepali Army