This article is about the military rank in Anglophone countries. For the equivalent rank in Slavophone armed forces, see Colonel (Eastern Europe). For the equivalent rank in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, see Oberst. For other uses, see Colonel (disambiguation).
Comparative military ranks
Armies, air forces (non-Commonwealth)
Navies, coast guard
Air forces (Commonwealth system)
Flag commissioned officers
Field marshal
Admiral of the fleet
Marshal of the air force
General or colonel general or army general
Admiral
Air chief marshal
Lieutenant general or army corps general
Vice admiral
Air marshal
Major general or divisional general
Rear admiral or Counter admiral
Air vice-marshal
Brigadier or brigadier general
Commodore or flotilla admiral
Air commodore
Senior commissioned officers
Colonel
(Ship-of-the-Line) Captain
Group captain
Lieutenant colonel
Frigate captain or Commander
Wing commander
Major or commandant
Corvette captain or Lieutenant commander
Squadron leader
Junior commissioned officers
Captain
Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant
First lieutenant or lieutenant
Lieutenant junior grade or sub-lieutenant
Flying officer
Second lieutenant or junior lieutenant
Ensign or midshipman
Pilot officer
Officer cadet
Officer cadet
Flight cadet
Non-commissioned officers
Warrant officer or sergeant major
Warrant officer or chief petty officer
Warrant officer
Sergeant
Petty officer
Sergeant
Enlisted ranks
Corporal or bombardier
Leading seaman
Corporal
Lance corporal or Lance bombardier or Specialist
Able seaman
Leading aircraftman
Private or gunner or trooper or sapper
Seaman
Aircraftman or airman or aviator
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Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of a regiment in an army. Modern usage varies greatly, and in some cases, the term is used as an honorific title that may have no direct relationship to military. In some smaller military forces, such as those of Monaco or the Vatican, colonel is the highest rank.
Equivalent naval ranks may be called captain or ship-of-the-line captain. In the Commonwealth's air force ranking system, the equivalent rank is group captain.
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