Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col, LTC), often abbreviated "Colonel" in conversation, is a rank of commissioned officer in many armies, marine forces and air forces.
Lieutenant Colonel typically ranks above a Major and below a Colonel. It is equivalent to Commander (RN, USN) and Wing Commander (RAF).
A lieutenant colonel is typically in charge of a Battalion (infantry) or Regiment (artillery/armoured) in an army. In the British Army and Royal Marines, a Lieutenant Colonel wears a crown above a pip. In the US Armed Forces, the insignia is a silver oak leaf. The rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Philippines equivalent to the rank of Superintendent in Police, Fire, and Jail force.
Officer Ranks | |||||||||||||
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Service | Cadet | OF-D | OF-1 | OF-2 | OF-3 | OF-4 | OF-5 | OF-6 | OF-7 | OF-8 | OF-9 | OF-10 | All |
British Army, Royal Marines | OCdt | 2LT | Lt | Capt | Maj | Lt Col | Col | Brig | Maj Gen | Lt Gen | Gen | FM | all |
Royal Navy | O/C | Mid | SLt | Lt | Lt Cdr | Cdr | Capt | Cdre | RAdm | VAdm | Adm | AotF | all |
US Army, USAF, USMC | Cadet | 2LT | 1LT | CPT | MAJ | LTC | COL | BG | MG | LTG | GEN | GA | all |
US Navy | MIDN | ENS | LTJG | LT | LCDR | CDR | CAPT | RDML | RADM | VADM | ADM | FADM | all |
The original article can be found at Lieutenant Colonel and the edit history here.