Colonel

Colonel is a senior military <a href="/facts/Officer_(armed_forces)/FDFw2Bpd">officer</a> rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and <a href="/facts/Paramilitary/mevWLG3M">paramilitary</a> organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of a <a href="/facts/Regiment/cBBUAaKg">regiment</a> in an army. Modern usage varies greatly, and in some cases, the term is used as an <a href="/facts/Colonel_(title)/UzLSkhhv">honorific title</a> that may have no direct relationship to military. In some smaller military forces, such as those of <a href="/facts/Monaco/QjjEJwKy">Monaco</a> or the <a href="/facts/Holy_See/7tK8AceC">Vatican</a>, colonel is the highest <a href="/facts/Military_rank/SC0dzyhz">rank</a>.
Equivalent naval ranks may be called <a href="/facts/Captain_(naval)/EeuMbyo5">captain</a> or <a href="/facts/Ship-of-the-line_captain/EeuMbyo5">ship-of-the-line captain</a>. In the <a href="/facts/Commonwealth_of_Nations/TcIRQnNq">Commonwealth</a>'s air force ranking system, the equivalent rank is <a href="/facts/Group_captain/xm3KCskl">group captain</a>.

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Colonel