Colonel (Col; ) is a
Canadian Forces rank used by
commissioned officers who wear the army, air force or special operations uniform.
Captain(N) is the equivalent rank for officers who wear the navy uniform. A colonel is senior to the army and air force rank of
lieutenant-colonel or the naval rank of
commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many army, armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countri ...
, and junior to the army and air force rank of
brigadier-general or the naval rank of
commodore.
Insignia
Before unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, rank structure and insignia followed the British pattern.
File:Cdn-Army-Col(OF-5)-2014.svg, Dress uniform tunic
Image:6 COL DEU(SHIRT).png, Uniform shirts
File:CA-Army-OF5.gif, Olive green uniform (old insignia)
Image:CADPAT temperate Col.png, CADPAT uniform (old insignia)
Image:CADPAT arid Col.png, Arid-region CADPAT uniform (old insignia)
File:CDN-Air Force-Colonel (OF5)-2015.svg, Dress uniform tunic
Image:Air Force slip-on Col.png, Uniform shirts (old insignia)
Image:Air Force olive Col.png, CADPAT uniform
Appointments
Typical appointments for colonels include:
*
Base commander (BComd)
*
Wing commander (Wg Comd)
*
Commanding officer of a school or training establishment, such as commandant of the
Canadian Army Command and Staff College, or commander of
Combat Training Centre Gagetown
* Commander of a
brigade group
*
Branch advisor
*
to foreign nations
The rank insignia for air force uniform is four stripes, worn on the cuffs of the service dress jacket, and on
slip-on
A shoulder mark, also called a rank slide or slip-on, is a flat cloth sleeve worn on the shoulder strap of a uniform. It may bear rank or other insignia. A shoulder mark should not be confused with a (an elaborate shoulder strap), a (a brai ...
s on other uniforms. The insignia for army and special operations uniform is two stars and a crown. The insignia worn on the headdress for an army or special operations colonel is the crest of the
Canadian coat of arms: a crowned gold lion with a maple leaf in its paw standing on a red-and-white wreath, all beneath the royal crown; the collar insignia is two crossed sabres. Some colonels, by nature of holding a specific appointment, may continue to wear the insignia of their
personnel branch
Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any oth ...
or regiment; for example, the
honorary colonel of an infantry regiment. Air force colonels wear the badge of their personnel branch (most often the
Air Operations Branch) on their headdress.
Colonels are addressed by rank and name; thereafter by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am".
Honorary ranks and appointments
There are also several honorary ranks and appointments associated with the rank of colonel, or containing the word "colonel" in their title.
*
Colonel-in-chief
*
Colonel of the regiment
* Honorary colonel
*
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 honor ...
Personnel holding these honorary ranks are not part of the military operational
chain of command. Rather, they serve in a ceremonial manner, often as a guest of honour at parades, mess dinners, or at other military traditions such as during
Remembrance Day. Usually, honorary ranks are filled by people who have had a prior association with the battalion, regiment, or squadron they represent.
Princess Patricia of Connaught was the colonel-in-chief of
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI, generally referred to as the Patricias) is one of the three Regular Force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army of the Canadian Armed Forces. Formed in 1914, it is named for Princess Patrici ...
, one of the most decorated infantry regiments in the Canadian Forces (CF). An honorary colonel of a CF flying or air maintenance squadron may be a past commanding officer of that squadron (who has since retired from active duty), or an air ace during the war.
References
External links
Badge of Colonels of the Canadian Armed Forces
{{Canadian officer ranks
Military insignia
Military ranks of Canada