Lieutenant colonel: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
mNo edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
{{subpages}}
{{PropDel}}<br><br>{{subpages}}
'''Lieutenant colonel''', abbreviated '''LTC''' in NATO usage, is a military rank, in the middle of the "field grade" system that divides officers into junior, field, and general/flag. In the NATO designation system (STANAG 2116),<ref name=RankMaven>{{citation
'''Lieutenant colonel''', abbreviated '''LTC''' in NATO usage, is a military rank, in the middle of the "field grade" system that divides officers into junior, field, and general/flag. In the NATO designation system (STANAG 2116),<ref name=RankMaven>{{citation
  | title = NATO codes for grades of military personnel: Agreed English texts
  | title = NATO codes for grades of military personnel: Agreed English texts

Revision as of 16:14, 17 March 2024

This article may be deleted soon.
To oppose or discuss a nomination, please go to CZ:Proposed for deletion and follow the instructions.

For the monthly nomination lists, see
Category:Articles for deletion.


This article is developing and not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

Lieutenant colonel, abbreviated LTC in NATO usage, is a military rank, in the middle of the "field grade" system that divides officers into junior, field, and general/flag. In the NATO designation system (STANAG 2116),[1] it is level OF-4, which is equivalent to the naval rank of commander. It is U.S. officer grade O-5. The next lower rank is commonly, but not exclusively, "major". The next higher, again depending on the specific military organization, is "colonel".

In modern militaries, typical command assignments at this level would be a battalion. These are formations of 500-1000 troops, or smaller specialized units that require a high degree of responsibility for field operations. A lieutenant colonel might also be assigned to a head a staff section, such as a depiuty chief of staff (e.g., deputy chief of staff for intelligence (G-2)) for a division, or might be a specialist in higher staff. A lieutenant colonel also could be the executive officer (i.e., deputy commander) of a brigade.

In the U.S. military, rising to this rank, or the naval equivalent, and retiring, is the mark of a successful but not outstanding career.

Etymology

The term "colonel" derives from Latin from Middle French modification of Old Italian colonnello column of soldiers: colonel, diminutive of colonna column, from Latin columna [2]. "Lieutenant", in this case, is a prefix meaning "assistant" or "assistant to".[3]

Insignia

Many countries follow U.S. or British usages. In the U.S. military, a lieutenant colonel wears a silver oak leaf. The British and widespread Commonwealth usage has a crown and one diamond.

In the Russian system, a colonel (polkovnik) wears two small stars, much smaller than those of a general. Some other militaries use two diamonds.

References