Lieutenant colonel

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Lieutenant colonel, also referred to as an obersturmbannführer in the Nazi-SS, or field colonel in the Bajoran Militia, was a military rank, usually found in air and ground fighting forces (as opposed to naval services). It was superior to major and subordinate to colonel. On Earth, this rank was used by various armies, by various units of Marines (naval ground forces), and by various air forces. Lieutenant colonels of the US Army and US Marine Corps commonly commanded regiments, which were composed of a variable number (but never less than two) of companies, batteries, or similar smaller units, along with necessary headquarters personnel. Lieutenant colonels of the US Air Force typically commanded a group of two or more squadrons that had their own captains or majors in command.
The lieutenant colonel rank was equivalent to the naval or Starfleet rank of commander. A lieutenant colonel was informally addressed as colonel. 
In the United States military, the insignia of a lieutenant colonel was a silver oak leaf. ()
In Germany, this rank was translated as Oberstleutnant. During World War II, when Germany was under reign of the Nazis, these officers wore silver shoulder knots with a single metal pip. In the SS, Oberstleutnant were referred to by a different nomenclature, Obersturmbannführer (senior storm-unit leader), 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. ()
The Bajoran Militia insignia for field colonel in 2369 was a gold Bajoran insignia pin worn on the collar, with one side painted black. ()
== Noted lieutenant colonels ==
* Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, US 7th Cavalry Regiment, US Army
* Lieutenant Colonel Fellini, US 498th Airbase Group, US Air Force
* Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis, cavalry, Texas Militia
* Obersturmbannführer Vosk, Na'kuhl allied with Nazi Germany, SS
* Lieutenant Colonel Tasha Yar, Confederation Corps
== Appendices ==
=== Background information ===
According to the , lieutenant colonel was a rank in the Military Assault Command Operations in the 2150s. The insignia for this rank was on display in a diagram of MACO rank and insignia.
=== External links ===
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Category:Military ranks