Colonels are sometimes referred to (but not addressed as) full colonels, bird colonels, or full bird colonels because lieutenant colonels are also referred to and addressed in correspondence as "colonel".

U.S. Army officers with their highest rank being colonel or lieutenant colonel. Not included are temporary ranks or ranks in National Guard, militia or other volunteer units. For Union army colonels, see Category:Union army colonels. This category has the following 4 subcategories, out of 4 total.

Colonel is the 22nd rank in the United States Air Force , ranking above Lieutenant Colonel and directly below Brigadier General. A colonel is a Field Officer at DoD paygrade O-6, with a starting monthly pay of $8,068. How do you become a Colonel?

Colonel is the 24th rank in the United States Army, ranking above Lieutenant Colonel and directly below Brigadier General. A colonel is a Field Officer at DoD paygrade O-6, with a starting monthly pay of $8,068 .

Major is for the most part a staff position and lieutenant colonel is a battalion commander, whereas a full bird colonel would be a brigade commander. Brigadier general is again a staff position, while major general would be a division commander.