lieutenant colonel
{{Short description|Military rank}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2009}}
{{Military ranks}}
Lieutenant colonel ({{IPAc-en|uk|l|E|f|'|t|E|n|@n|t|_|ˈ|k|ɜːr|n|əl}} {{respell|lef|TEN|ənt|_|KUR|nəl}}, {{IPAc-en|us|l|u:|'|t|E|n|-}} {{respell|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. Additionally, in the U.S. Army 'light colonel' has been used informally in the past.{{cite book |first=Keith E. |last=Bonn |title=Army Officer's Guide |edition=50th |page=14 |location=Mechanicsville, Pa. |publisher=Stackpole Books |date=2005}} In the British military, it is customary to refer to either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel by their first names when mentioning them, e.g. "Colonel Tim will be at the parade". 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|date=August 2022}} 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 (Turkey)
- Lieutenant colonel (Sri Lanka)
- Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom){{cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/about/3696.aspx |title=Officers' rank insignia |website=British Army |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915111438/http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/about/3696.aspx |archive-date=15 September 2008}}
- Lieutenant colonel (United States)
Gallery
= Army =
File:Australian Army OF-4.svg|Australian Army
(Lieutenant Colonel)
File:Bangladesh-army-OF-4.svg|Bangladesh Army
(Lieutenant Colonel)
File:Army-BEL-OF-04.svg|Belgian Army
({{lang|nl-BE|Luitenant-kolonel}}
{{lang|fr-BE|Lieutenant-colonel}})
File:Tenente-Coronel-V.gif|Brazilian Army
({{lang|pt-BR|Tenente Coronel}})
File:Cambodian Army OF-04.svg|Royal Cambodian Army
({{lang|km|វរសេនីយ៍ទោ}})
File:Canadian Army OF-4.svg|Canadian Army
(Lieutenant Colonel)
File:CzArmy 2011 OF4-Podplukovnik shoulder.svg|Czech Army
({{lang|CS|Podplukovník}})
File:Rank insignia of oberstløjnant of the Royal Danish Army.svg|Danish Army
({{lang|da|Oberstløjtnant}})
File:Army France OF4 V.png|French Army
({{lang|fr|Lieutenant colonel}})
File:OF04 Heer.png|German Army
({{lang|de|Oberstleutnant}})
File:Lieutenant Colonel of the Indian Army.svg|Indian Army (Lieutenant Colonel)
File:17-TNI Army-LTC.svg|Indonesian Army
({{lang|id|Letnan Kolonel}})
File:IT-Army-OF4.svg|Italian Army
({{lang|it|Tenente colonnello}})
File:Nl-landmacht-luitenant kolonel.svg|Royal Netherlands Army
({{lang|nl|Luitenant-Kolonel}})
File:New Zealand-Army-OF-4.svg|New Zealand Army (Lieutenant Colonel)
File:Norway-army-OF-4.svg|Norwegian Army
({{lang|no|Oberstløytant}})
File:OF-4 Pakistan Army.svg|alt=Pakistan Army Lieutenant Colonel|Pakistan Army (Lieutenant Colonel)
File:PA LTC Svc.svg|Philippine Army
({{lang|fil|Kalakan}}/{{lang|es|Teniente coronel}})
File:17 - Tenente-coronel.svg|Portuguese Army
({{lang|pt|Tenente Coronel}})
File:Russia-Army-OF-4-1994-field.svg|alt=|Russian Ground Forces
({{lang|ru|Podpolkóvnik}})
File:Spain-Army-OF-4.svg|Spanish Army
({{lang|es|Teniente Coronel}})
File:British Army OF-4.svg|British Army
(United Kingdom)
(Lieutenant Colonel)
File:US Army O5 (Army greens).svg|United States Army
(Lieutenant Colonel)
File:TCNELEJB-GNB.png|Venezuela
({{lang|es|Teniente Coronel}})
File:Nigerian Army Logo With Correct Inscriptions.png|Nigerian Army (Lieutenant Colonel)
= Air Force =
File:BE-Air Force-OF4.svg|Belgian Air Force
({{lang|nl-BE|Luitenant-kolonel}}
{{lang|fr-BE|Lieutenant-colonel}})
File:Cambodian Air Force OF-04.svg|Royal Cambodian Air Force
({{lang|km|វរសេនីយ៍ទោ}})
File:RDAF Lt Col.svg|Danish Air Force
({{lang|da|Oberstløjtnant}})
File:Netherlands-AirForce-OF-4.svg|Royal Netherlands Air Force
({{lang|nl|Luitenant-Kolonel}})
File:Norway-air force-OF-4.svg|Norwegian Air Force
({{lang|no|Oberstløytant}})
File:PAF LTC Svc.svg|Philippine Air Force
({{lang|fil|Kalakan}}/{{lang|es|Teniente coronel}})
File:Russia-AirForce-OF-4-1994-parade.svg|alt=|Russian Air Force
({{lang|ru|Podpolkóvnik}})
File:US Air Force O5 shoulderboard.svg|United States Air Force
(Lieutenant Colonel)
= Other services =
File:US_Space-force_O5.svg|United States Space Force
(Lieutenant Colonel)
See also
References
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Military ranks of Singapore