Lieutenant colonel

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. Line colonels commonly command regiments, which are composed of a variable number (but never less than two) battalions, batteries, or similar smaller units, along with necessary headquarters personnel. The 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. On Earth, this rank was used by various armies, by various units of Marines (naval ground forces), and by various air forces.

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 seems subordinate in design to the whole silver Bajoran symbol worn by Colonel Kira Nerys in later episodes.

Noted lieutenants colonel

• Field Colonel Day Kannu, Bajoran allied with the Alliance for Global Unity
• Lieutenant Colonel Fellini, 498th Air Base, 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.