lieutenant colonel

military rank

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July 23, 2026

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A lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps. This rank is positioned above a major and below a colonel. The term "lieutenant colonel" signifies an "assistant" or "deputy" colonel.12

In practice, a lieutenant colonel is a senior officer capable of commanding a brigade or regiment. In the U.S. military, this rank is equivalent to a commander in the navy. The abbreviation for lieutenant colonel is Lt. Col., and this rank is sometimes informally called "light colonel". It is also common for a lieutenant colonel to be addressed as "colonel".13

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military unit
…and is commanded by a lieutenant colonel. The battalion is the smallest unit to have a staff of officers (in charge of personnel, operations, intelligence, and logistics) to assist the commander. Several battalions form a brigade, which has 2,000 to 8,000 troops and is commanded by a brigadier general or…
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…and is commanded by a lieutenant colonel. The battalion is the smallest unit to have a staff of officers (in charge of personnel, operations, intelligence, and logistics) to assist the commander. Several battalions form a brigade, which has 2,000 to 8,000 troops and is commanded by a brigadier general or…
Read More