Lieutenant colonel

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A 20th century Lieutenant Colonel from the United States armed forces

Lieutenant colonel (also referred to as field colonel in the Bajoran Militia) is a military rank, usually found in ground fighting forces (as opposed to naval services). It is superior to major and subordinate to colonel. On Earth, this rank was used by various armies, by various units of Marines (naval ground forces), and by various air forces. Lieutenant colonels of the Army and Marines commonly commanded batallions, which were composed of a variable number (but never less than two) of companies, batteries, or similar smaller units, along with necessary headquarters personnel. Lieutenant colonels of the U.S. Air Force typically command a group of two or more Squadrons that have their own captains or majors in command.

The lieutenant colonel rank is equivalent to the naval or Starfleet rank of commander. A lieutenant colonel is properly addressed as "colonel," which can make it difficult for those not familiar with military insignia to tell the two sorts of officers apart.

In the United States armed forces, the insignia of a lieutenant colonel is a silver oak leaf. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")

In Germany this rank was translated as Oberstleutnant. During World War II, when Germany was under reign of the Nazis, these officers wore on their collar four metal pips in a square, with two thin silver stripes beneath on a square field which was bordered by another silver stripe. In the SS, Oberstleutnant were referred to by a different nomenclature, Obersturmbannführer (senior storm-unit leader). (ENT: "Storm Front")

The Bajoran Militia insignia for field colonel in 2369 was a gold Bajoran insignia pin worn on the collar, with one side painted black. (DS9: "The Siege")

Worn by Bajoran officers in DS9 Season 2, this colonel pin is subordinate in design to the whole silver Bajoran symbol worn by Colonel Kira Nerys in later episodes. This suggests that Kira was promoted two steps in rank, from Major directly to full Colonel. (On the other hand, when Kira donned a Starfleet uniform to assist the Cardassian Resistance, she wore the rank insignia of a Starfleet commander, equivalent to a lieutenant colonel, not of a captain, which would equate to a full colonel.)

Noted lieutenant colonels

• Field Colonel Day Kannu, Bajoran allied with the Alliance for Global Unity
• Lieutenant Colonel Fellini, 498th Air Base Wing, US Air Force
• Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis, cavalry, Texas Militia
• Lieutenant Colonel Vosk, Na'kuhl allied with the German SS

External Links

• Insignia of United States Military Officers

This chart shows only general equivalencies based on the ranks used by many governments on Earth, as well as the rest of the galaxy.