Question about USA Army - what does the colonel do and how highly is he ranked?

[Qianglong]

I was watching all the series of Rambo I (First blood) and the police officers don't seem to give a damn to the colonel. I thought he is a highly ranked officer? So in real life, when a police officer sees a colonel, does he/she have to salute him and fall under his command because colonel > police officer?



Also what does a colonel do? Does he have to go to the front lines? If a private or other officer sees a colonel, what do they have to dO?

 

[Ns1]

better question, why the FUCK is colonel pronounced kernal!?

 

[Kelvrick]

Heres the army ranking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U..._officer_rank_insignia

No, they're under separate branches of command. Of course, if say the chinese invaded california and a state of emergency was called with martial law to try to fend back the invaders, then a colonel can likely take charge of local law enforcement. Damned of a colonal can walk around ordering PD to do as he says.

 

[BoomerD]

The Colonel is military. Police are not. The Colonel has no direct authority over the police except in very rare situations.

 

[olds]

Colonel Klink, FTW.

 

[BoomerD]

"I know nothing...NOTHING!"

 

[Epic Fail]

The Colonel makes some damn good fried chicken.

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: yamadakun
The Colonel makes some damn good fried chicken.

:beer: to Colonel Sanders

 

[imported_Baloo]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
The Colonel is military. Police are not. The Colonel has no direct authority over the police except in very rare situations.

The colonol has no authority over civilian police under any circumstances.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Ns1
better question, why the FUCK is colonel pronounced kernal!?

yea i've wondered about that as well. its just stupid.

 

[compuwiz1]

Full bird or shit bird?

 

[EarthwormJim]

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_250.html

It was originally spelled coronel. The word originates from the italian colonello. At some point someone decided to spell it more like the word it originally derived from., however the pronunciation stayed.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_250.html

It was originally spelled coronel. The word originates from the italian colonello. At some point someone decided to spell it more like the word it originally derived from., however the pronunciation stayed.

yay for straight dope
its historically stupid

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Baloo

Originally posted by: BoomerD
The Colonel is military. Police are not. The Colonel has no direct authority over the police except in very rare situations.

The colonol has no authority over civilian police under any circumstances.

Actually, in martial law situations, the military would have authority over local police.

 

[imported_Devine]

Like people said on here civilian law enforcement have no responsibility to salute a Col. because they're not in the military. A Col. can do lots of different things, depending on the size of the base they can be anything from a squadron commander to the base commander. All they really do is manage because there's plenty of people under him/her to get whatever the mission is done. Front lines? Not unless they really really wanted to, a Col. is pretty high up there and hold a lot of power and there's no good reason for them to be out in the front. I cant speak for other countries military but anybody in the US Armed Services that is in uniform has to salute any officer in uniform, doesnt matter if its a officer saluting another officer, its just a form of respect and part of our customs & courtesies.

"Salutes are rendered as a courtesy and are required between those officers junior and those senior in rank. If individuals are equal in rank, salutes may be exchanged. There are no set rules regarding how close or how far away a junior must be in order to render a salute. When a junior recognizes a senior, the junior will initiate a salute. There will usually be a verbal greeting exchanged by both members and the senior member will return the salute."

http://level2.cap.gov/Prof_Dev...on10_html/lesson10.htm

 

[imported_Baloo]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Baloo

Originally posted by: BoomerD
The Colonel is military. Police are not. The Colonel has no direct authority over the police except in very rare situations.

The colonol has no authority over civilian police under any circumstances.

Actually, in martial law situations, the military would have authority over local police.

NO, they woulnd't. Don't confuse cooperation with authority.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Baloo

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Baloo

Originally posted by: BoomerD
The Colonel is military. Police are not. The Colonel has no direct authority over the police except in very rare situations.

The colonol has no authority over civilian police under any circumstances.

Actually, in martial law situations, the military would have authority over local police.

NO, they woulnd't. Don't confuse cooperation with authority.

Dude, do you have any idea what MARTIAL LAW means?

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Baloo

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Baloo

Originally posted by: BoomerD
The Colonel is military. Police are not. The Colonel has no direct authority over the police except in very rare situations.

The colonol has no authority over civilian police under any circumstances.

Actually, in martial law situations, the military would have authority over local police.

NO, they woulnd't. Don't confuse cooperation with authority.

Dude, do you have any idea what MARTIAL LAW means?

Probably not ... a lot of people don't understand it.

 

[PremiumG]

yeah, it's like kung fu...

 

[Jhill]

Better question is why does rambo kick the guys ass that is just carrying a box of papers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wDsCZkBPW8

It's at the 6:55 mark if you want to skip ahead.

 

[se7en]

colonel makes chicken duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SirStev0]

get an r in his name even though it's an l.

 

[Q]

Colonel is the 6th rank in line, generally in the Army they lead Brigades or Regiments.

 

[Old Hippie]

I was never in the military, but dated a girl who's dad was a "Fulll Bird Colonel". All my military buddies gave him a lotta respect.

All I know is, they lived very well.



BTW, I dated two different females with "Colonel" Dad's in the 70's. There was no doubt both these fathers hated my long-haired, tie dyed, VW Campmobile, ass.
But, what-are-you-gonna-do? (Shrug)

 

[datalink7]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Colonel is the 6th rank in line, generally in the Army they lead Brigades or Regiments.

The difference being is that Regiments are made up of all the same type of Battalions (all Infantry for instance), whereas a Brigade is mixed (Infantry, Field Artillery, Support, etc.). Regimentally structured Brigades aren't used any more to my knowledge.

With two to five Battalions per Brigade, that is generally around 1500-4000 soldiers. So a Colonel has quite a bit of responsibility. Typically you don't make that rank till about 20 years in service, or later.