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Marine Corps Ranks »Lieutenant Colonel Rank •LtCol Pay •LtCol Rank History•Promotion Information
O-5 Lieutenant Colonel -Field Officer - U.S. Marine Corps Ranks
Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel
A Lieutenant Colonel is the second field officer grade commissioned officer rank in the United States Marine Corps. A Lieutenant Colonel generally commands a battalion of 300 to 1,000 soldiers assisted by a Major, multiple junior commissioned officers, and a Command Sergeant Major as principal enlisted advisor. A Lieutenant Colonel may also serve as an Executive Officer or Staff Officer in a variety of high-level units or command posts.
It will generally take an officer in the Marine Corps16 to 22 years to rise to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As a result, many career officers who are eligible to retire after 20 years of active service retire at this rank.
Lieutenant Colonel is the 22nd rank in the United States Marine Corps, ranking above Major and directly below Colonel.A lieutenant colonel is a Field Officer at DoD paygrade O-5, with a starting monthly pay of $6,112.
How do you become a Lieutenant Colonel?
A Lieutenant Colonel is most often promoted from Major (Maj), although promotion from lower paygrades may occur with sufficient display of leadership and experience. Click here to learn more about promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.
What is the proper way to address a Lieutenant Colonel?
The correct way to address a Lieutenant Colonel named Mr. Weber is"Colonel WeberNEVER Lieutenant", or written as LtCol Weber.In formal situations, a Lieutenant Colonel should always be addressed by their full rank.
How much does a Lieutenant Colonel earn?
Basic pay for an entry-level Lieutenant Colonel with 2 or less years of experience is $6,112.20 per month.
A Lieutenant Colonel receives an automatic raise to their basic pay every one to two years.Basic pay is only a small percentage of a Lieutenant Colonel's final compensation package.
In addition to a monthly basic pay salary, a Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel may be eligible for multiple types of allowances and bonus pay including food allowance, clothing allowance, education allowance, hazard pay, and more.
For full details on the Marine Corps' Lieutenant Colonel compensation and retirement plan, visit the 2024 Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Pay Chart. A full table of the Marine Corps' current paygrades are available at the Marine Corps Pay Chart.
Equivalent Ranks to the Marine Corps' O-5 Lieutenant Colonel
To learn more about the Marine Corps' rank structure, see our complete list of Marine Corps ranks.
The Government civilian-employee equivalent of a Lieutenant Colonel is paid under the General Schedule payscale. For more details, see this Marine Corps rank to GS grade conversion table .
To see a list of military medals and decorations that can be earned by servicemembers in the Marine Corps and other branches of the military, see our list of military decorations and medals.
FAQs
In the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force, lieutenant colonel is a field-grade officer rank, just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.
Is lieutenant colonel a high rank in the Marines? ›
Lieutenant colonels are the second field officer grade in the U.S. Marine Corps. They command from 300-1,000 Marines at a given time and are assisted by one major, junior commissioned officers and one command sergeant major as an enlisted adviser. It typically takes 16-22 years to reach the rank of lieutenant colonel.
How long does it take to become lieutenant colonel in the USMC? ›
The time for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel is a minimum of 4 years in the rank of Major and 17 years in service overall. Their pay grade is OF-6.
How much does a LT colonel make in the Marines? ›
$113K (Median Total Pay)
The estimated total pay range for a O5 Marines Lieutenant Colonel at US Marine Corps is $93K–$138K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay. The average O5 Marines Lieutenant Colonel base salary at US Marine Corps is $113K per year.
What is the rank of LTC in the military? ›
LIEUTENANT COLONEL (LTC)
Typically commands battalion-sized units (300 to 1,000 Soldiers), with a CSM as principal NCO assistant. May also be selected for brigade and task force Executive Officer.
Is lieutenant colonel a big deal? ›
In the United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force, lieutenant colonel is a field-grade officer rank, just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.
What is the average age of a lieutenant colonel? ›
O-3 (Captain): 27 years old [1] O-4 (Major): 33 years old [1] O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel): 39 years old [1] O-6 (Colonel): 45 years old [1]
What rank do most marines retire at? ›
Unless you're medically retired, the least you can retire at is SSgt. If you get passed over for Sgt twice and your time in service is about to be 10 yrs, the USMC generally will process you out. Most retire as Gunnery Sgts or Master Sgts/First Sgts.
What does a lieutenant colonel do in Marines? ›
LIEUTENANT COLONEL – a key decision-maker; may serve as a battalion commander. COLONEL – serves as a regimental commander, brigade executive officer, or division staff member. BRIGADIER GENERAL – A one-star general, a Brigadier General is nominated by the President and must also be confirmed for duty by the Senate.
How hard is it to be a lt colonel? ›
Typically, it takes around 16-22 years of service to reach this rank. However, some officers may be promoted faster if they demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and meet the necessary requirements.
It depends on when you retired. 20 years' service gets you 50% of the current active-duty base pay for a Lieutenant Colonel ($10861,80). 30 years gets you 75%. A Lieutenant Colonel who retired today after 30 years would receive $8,145.75 each month.
Do you keep your rank when you leave the military? ›
Retired soldiers do keep their rank and are often addressed by it in post-service life. This enduring status honors their years of commitment and service to their country. It's not merely an honorary mention; retired service members hold their ranks both in title and in many practical aspects of life post-military.
How do you address a retired Lt Colonel? ›
Oddly enough, Lt Colonels are also addressed as “colonel.” But when I made or answered a phone call on active duty, I would answer “Lt Col Henning speaking.” It is okay to address him as “Colonel” because he has earned the title, just as you will always call a person “Doctor,” even when they have retired.
How long does it take to go from LT colonel to colonel? ›
A Lieutenant Colonel who has served a minimum of eighteen years time in service and five years time in grade becomes eligible for promotion to Colonel, provided such officers continue to meet the physical requirements and stay out of legal trouble; although, soldiers seeking the Colonel rank do not usually see ...
Is Lieutenant Colonel a higher rank than Captain? ›
The next tier of ranks are Field Grade Officers. This includes Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel which is the highest field grade officer rank. The next tier of ranks are Company Grade officers. This includes Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant and Captain, which is the highest company grade officer.
Lieutenant Colonel Marine Corps Military Ranks
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