Colonel commandant Colonel commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English - speaking countries . The title , not a substantive military rank , could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels . Today , the holder often has an honorary role outside the executive military structure , such as advocacy for the troops . United Kingdom . In the British Army , the term " colonel - commandant " goes back at least to the American War of Independence , when it denoted an officer in command of a regiment . In 1921 , the Army abolished the appointment of brigadier - general and replaced it with the new appointments of colonel - commandant and colonel on the staff : Colonels - commandant commanded brigades , depots or training establishments , while colonels on the staff held administrative appointments . Like brigadier - general , both of the new appointments were temporary , the holder reverting to his substantive rank ( usually colonel ) at the end of his appointment . They were both abolished in 1928 , replaced by the appointment of brigadier ( though the rank insignia — a crown over three " pips " or stars — remained the same ) . In the Royal Marines , the ranks of colonel commandant and colonel 2nd commandant dated back to 1755 , when fifty companies of marines were raised in three divisions : each division had a colonel commandant and a colonel 2nd commandant . These ranked below major - general and above lieutenant - colonel and therefore replaced colonel . The Royal Marines did not use the appointment of brigadier - general until 1913 , and dispensed with it again , along with the Army , in 1922 . Like the Army , the Royal Marines adopted the appointment of brigadier in 1928 , but the two ranks of colonel commandant persisted at least as far as World War II . By 1957 , however , they had been abolished and replaced with colonel . The title of colonel - commandant is now used as an honorary or ceremonial title relating to a military corps . For example , General Sir Richard Dannatt was Colonel - Commandant of the Army Air Corps as well as his full - time role as Chief of the General Staff and Brigadier Jane Arigho , a retired Director of Army Nursing Service s , is the Colonel - Commandant of Queen Alexandra ' s Royal Army Nursing Corps . Canada . The Canadian Forces widely uses colonels commandant as honorary appointments to act as advocates for members and to advise on relevant policy matters . In reserve regiments there has usually been an honorary colonel and an honorary lieutenant - colonel , while in the Regular Force , the title used is colonel commandant or colonel of the regiment . Many units also have a colonel - in - chief who is often a member of the Royal Family , frequently with a name connection to the regiment . Example : The Queen ' s York Rangers ( First American Regiment ) having the Queen and later the Duke of York , as Colonel - in - Chief . In the artillery , the monarch holds this role with the appellation " Captain - General " . All of these " honoraries " are in head - of - family roles , approachable in varying degrees by anyone in the " regimental family " . The colonel commandant of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps , is an appointment given by the Governor General and Commander - in - Chief of Canada to a distinguished retired armoured forces officer . The appointment is for three years , during which the incumbent is on the Canadian Forces ' reserve list as the senior officer of the corps . He is responsible for advising the army commander on matters pertaining to the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps . A colonel commandant travels widely to canvass the views of all ranks in the corps and frequently attends military policy conferences , ceremonies and unit celebrations . He is an " ex officio " member of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Association ' s executive committee . In 2001 , the Canadian Forces Medical Branch canvassed past and present members for nominations to the role of colonel commandant . The role is ceremonial but the colonel commandant acts as a link between the Canadian Forces Medical Branch and the wider civilian medical community . The position is not restricted to former senior medical officers ; consideration is given to medical practitioners who are " particularly prominent and well respected within the world of civilian medicine . " Australia . Until 1882 , William Acland Douglas , who served in the 50th Regiment , was colonel - commandant of the military forces in Victoria . Australian formations , such as the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police and the Royal Australian Regiment ( RAR ) have Colonel Commandants , a retired soldier whose role is to act as advocate for the troops ' interests . This requires visits to wherever the corps or regiment is deployed . Bangladesh . In the Bangladesh Army the post of colonel commandant is an honorary post held by the most senior serving member of a corps or regiments , he / she is usually a general officer in the rank of major general and above . The post is found is all corps and regiments of the army . India . In India colonel commandant is a ' non - substantive ' rank , and is usually held by general officers mostly major generals or lieutenant generals . The officer would have been once part of the regiment , and in this role he represents the regiment and its men at the higher level of military hierarchy . This is especially in matters related to troop welfare . In photographs where the officer is portrayed as the ' colonel commandant ' , the rank insignia of a brigadier affixed on a maroon / vine red background is used . In the National Cadet Corps , which is closely connected to Indian universities the vice chancellor of the university is given the honorary rank of ' colonel commandant ' . Vice chancellors are eligible to wear the NCC khakhi uniform and wear the insignia , even though they would not have any military experience . In NCC this appointment is purely ceremonial . Sri Lanka . In the Sri Lankan Army the post of colonel commandant is an honorary post held by the most senior serving member of a corps , he / she is usually a general officer or a brigadier . The post is found in all corps of the army as well as the Mechanized Infantry Regiment and the Sri Lanka National Guard . It is similar in function to that of colonel of the regiment found in multi - battalion infantry regiments . United States . In 1779 , Hungarian - born Colonel Commandant Michael Kovats died leading the Continental Army cavalry against British troops at Charleston The highest - ranking officer of the United States Marine Corps was formerly titled Colonel Commandant : the title now is simply Commandant . At the Alamo , William B . Travis was given the position of lieutenant colonel commandant .