# Colonel (Canada)
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> Source revision: 1308869489
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{{Short description|Officer rank of the Canadian Armed Forces}}
{{Multiple issues|1=
{{More references|date=September 2008}}
{{Notability|date=July 2022}}
}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name = Colonel
| image = 100px100px
| caption = Insignia
'''Left:''' Army
'''Right:''' Air Force
| image2 =
| image3 =
| country = Canada
| service branch = [Canadian Armed Forces](/source/Canadian_Armed_Forces)
| abbreviation = Col
| rank =
| NATO rank = [OF-5](/source/OF-5)
| Non-NATO rank =
| formation =
| abolished =
| higher rank = [Brigadier-general](/source/Brigadier-General_(Canada))
| lower rank = [Lieutenant-colonel](/source/Lieutenant-Colonel_(Canada))
| equivalents = [Captain(N)](/source/Captain_(Canadian_naval_rank))
| history =
|native_name={{smaller|{{nobold|{{lang|fr|Colonel}}}}}}}}
'''Colonel''' ('''Col'''; {{langx|fr|colonel, col}}) is a [Canadian Forces rank](/source/Canadian_Armed_Forces_ranks_and_insignia) used by [commissioned officers](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) who wear the army, air force or special operations uniform. [Captain(N)](/source/Captain_(naval)) 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](/source/Lieutenant-Colonel_(Canada)) or the naval rank of [commander](/source/Commander_(Canada)), and junior to the army and air force rank of [brigadier-general](/source/Brigadier-General) or the naval rank of [commodore](/source/Commodore_(Canada)).[{{Cite web|last=Defence|first=National|date=2017-11-23|title=Military ranks|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/services/defence/caf/military-identity-system/rank-appointment-insignia.html|access-date=2021-03-13|website=aem}}]
== 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](/source/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](/source/Canadian_Forces_Base) (BComd)
* [Wing commander](/source/Wing_Commander_(rank)) (Wg Comd)
* [Commanding officer](/source/Commanding_officer) of a school or training establishment, such as commandant of the [Canadian Army Command and Staff College](/source/Canadian_Army_Command_and_Staff_College), or commander of [Combat Training Centre Gagetown](/source/Combat_Training_Centre_Gagetown)
* Commander of a [brigade group](/source/brigade_group)
* [Branch advisor](/source/Personnel_branch)
* [Military attaché](/source/Military_attach%C3%A9) to foreign nations
The rank insignia for air force uniform is four {{convert|1/2|in|cm|adj=on}} stripes, worn on the cuffs of the service dress jacket, and on [slip-on](/source/slip-on)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](/source/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](/source/personnel_branch) 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](/source/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.[{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2013-07-08 |title=Honorary Appointments |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/army/services/honoraries/honorary-appointment.html |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=[Canada.ca](/source/Canada.ca)}}]
* [Colonel-in-chief](/source/Colonel-in-chief)
* [Colonel of the regiment](/source/Colonel_of_the_regiment)
* Honorary colonel
* Honorary lieutenant-colonel
* [Colonel commandant](/source/Colonel_commandant)
Each unit in the [Reserve Army](/source/Primary_Reserve) typically has an honorary colonel and Honorary lieutenant-colonel.