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38-601: The Air Force Personnel Center ( AFPC ) is a field operating agency of Headquarters, U.S. Air Force , Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel. AFPC operates the Air Force Contact Center, where personnel experts provide customer service. The center enhances personnel services by developing programs that enable individuals to carry out personnel actions through web-based, self-service applications, such as online retirements and virtual enlisted promotion releases. APFC manages assignments and facilitates

76-420: A Kentucky colonel ; Colonel Christian Umstead, US Marine, a Kentucky Colonel ; Colonel Tom Parker , Elvis Presley 's manager, who received the honor from a Louisiana governor; and Edward M. House , known as Colonel House, a Texas honorary colonel and adviser to President Woodrow Wilson . Patrol cap A patrol hat , also known as a field cap or soft cap , is a soft kepi constructed similarly to

114-740: A baseball cap , with a stiff, rounded visor but featuring a flat top, worn by military personnel of some countries in the field when a combat helmet is not required. The M1951 Field Cap , introduced with the M1951 Uniform, was a derivative of the M1943 Field Cap , part of the M1943 Uniform . The M1951 cap was worn in the Korean War , where it became known as the "patrol cap" by the US Army Rangers there. It

152-621: A velcro -backed patch on the back with the soldier's name printed on it and a small internal pocket, the soldier's rank insignia is pinned on the front, as seen in the image below. The Ridgeway Cap, a stiffened version of the M1951 Patrol Cap made famous after being worn by Fidel Castro, is a standard issue cap in the Cuban Revolutionary Army , and Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force . American style patrol caps were worn by Cuban soldiers before, and during

190-514: A "Command Chief") as principal senior NCO enlisted adviser. Colonels are also found leading at directorate and division levels on the Secretariat, Air Staff (United States) , MAJCOM , or Numbered Air Force staff. A Space Force colonel typically commands a delta . In the modern armed forces, the colonel's eagle is worn facing forward with head and beak pointing towards the wearer's front. Of all U.S. military commissioned officer rank, only

228-598: A Headquarters Air Force field extension of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, and in 1971 became a separate operating agency. Its name was changed to the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center in 1978, when the Air Force integrated the manpower and personnel functions at U.S. Air Force Headquarters level. In October 1985, the manpower function was realigned and separated from personnel. This resulted in

266-642: A directorate within the Air Force Personnel Center 1 October 1995. On 29 August 2006, the Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center at Langley Air Force Base , Virginia, became a direct reporting unit of the Personnel Center. It became the center's newest directorate on 1 October 2007. Colonel (United States) When worn alone, the insignia of rank seen at right is worn centered on headgear and fatigue uniforms. When worn in pairs,

304-411: A lieutenant colonel as deputy commander, a major as executive officer , and a command sergeant major as a senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) advisor. An Air Force colonel typically commands a wing consisting of 1,000 to 4,000+ airmen with another colonel as the vice commander, four other colonels as group commanders , which are the major components of wings, and a Chief Master Sergeant (i.e.,

342-518: A pay grade of "O-5". Officers in pay grade O-6 visiting or on temporary assignment to other installations are also accorded "Distinguished Visitor" (DV) status for lodging and other appropriate protocol honors. When flying on military aircraft as either crew or passenger, they are also accorded "Code" status as a "Code 7" in accordance with Department of Defense Flight Information Publication General Planning (DoD FLIP GP). Most Army colonels have attended or otherwise completed via seminar or correspondence

380-578: A regiment. Since most U.S. regiments were state formations and were quickly raised, the colonels in command of the regiments were known by the title "Colonel of Volunteers", in contrast to Regular Army colonels who held permanent commissions. During the Civil War, the Confederate army maintained a unique insignia for colonel, which comprised three yellow stars worn on the collar of a uniform. Robert E. Lee wore this insignia due to his former rank in

418-532: A war college or a senior staff college equivalent to study joint warfare and war itself. It is possible to make Colonel without war college if the board file is as strong or stronger than a war college graduate. Most Army colonels receive postgraduate level senior joint professional military education (JPME) at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania prior to promotion. The 2009 graduating class

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456-454: Is also the service's focal point for Missing in Action / Prisoner of War programs, members reported missing, captured or imprisoned and members placed in an absent without leave/deserter status. It tasks the combatant commanders' requirements by planning and monitoring readiness. AFPC is organized into six directorates. The Air Force Military Personnel Center was established 1 April 1963, as

494-468: Is worn on the left side and the rank insignia is worn on the right hand side of the Marine, Navy, Coast Guard and NOAA garrison caps, the eagle is facing to the eagle's left with the olive branch clutched in the eagle's left hand talons, which is a mirror opposite to the wear of the single eagle for Army, Air Force, and Space Force officers. The U.S. rank of colonel is a direct successor to the same rank in

532-531: The Army Combat Uniform (ACU). Starting on June 14, 2001, Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki made the black beret the standard headgear for Soldiers in the garrison environment, with the exception of Airborne, Ranger and Special Forces units, which had been authorized to wear their own unique berets since the early 1980s. On June 14, 2011, the M1951/ACU soft patrol cap became once again

570-780: The British Army . The first colonels in the United States were appointed from colonial militias maintained as reserves to the British Army in the North American colonies. Upon the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War , colonial legislatures would grant commissions to men to raise a regiment and serve as its colonel. Thus, the first U.S. colonels were usually respected men with ties in local communities and active in politics. With

608-650: The Cuban Revolution . After the Revolution, the patrol cap kept being issued to Cuban military personnel. It is most commonly seen in solid color olive drab, but Cuban patrol caps with camouflage patterns like the grey lizard pattern have been made. This style of military uniform cap was worn by the Muleteers' Battalion founded in January 1948 which was named for the British Army's Zion Mule Corps of

646-557: The National Defense University or one of the other U.S. military services. Some people known as "colonels" are actually recipients of honorary colonel ranks from a state governor and are not officers of the U.S. military. In the 19th century, the honorary colonels were military appointments and they still are nominally appointed to a governor's staff, but without military rights or duties. Examples of honorary colonels include Colonel Harland Sanders of KFC fame,

684-615: The War of 1812 the Army grew rapidly and many colonels were appointed, but most of these colonels were discharged when their regiments were disbanded at the war's conclusion. A number of other colonels were appointed by brevet – an honorary promotion usually for distinguished service in combat. The American Civil War saw a large influx of colonels as the rank was commonly held in both the Confederate army and Union Army by those who commanded

722-570: The AWC distance learning program. Still other USAF colonels a JPME program via the National Defense University (i.e., National War College , Eisenhower School ) or the program of another service (e.g., Army War College, College of Naval Warfare at the Naval War College , Marine Corps War College ). The AWC resident program includes participation by officers from various other branches of the U.S. armed forces and Allied nations. Completion of

760-684: The AWC or an equivalent program is a de facto requirement for promotion to colonel in the USAF, to include the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard . Marine colonels may graduate from the Marine Corps War College or, like all other branches, may receive credit via non-resident attendance at another installation, via correspondence, or will be graduates of an equivalent senior JPME program sponsored by

798-650: The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program, provides oversight to the Airman and Family Readiness Centers and oversees the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program. It maintains the records for active-duty Airmen and serves as the Air Force office of primary responsibility for worldwide casualty reporting, notification of family members and assistance to families and field commanders on benefits and entitlements. This agency

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836-536: The United States Army and refused to wear the insignia of a Confederate general , stating that he would only accept permanent promotion when the Confederacy had defeated the U.S. and achieved its independence. After the end of the Civil War, the rank of colonel again became rare as the forces of the United States Army downsized and became extremely small. However, many U.S. colonels were appointed in

874-704: The center being renamed the Air Force Military Personnel Center on 1 January 1986. The center became a field operating agency on 5 February 1991. The former Civilian Personnel Operations was established on 1 July 1976 and was a direct reporting unit of the Air Force Directorate of Civilian Personnel until 1991 when it was renamed the Air Force Civilian Personnel Management Center and became a field operating agency. It became

912-477: The colonel's eagle has a distinct right and left insignia. All other commissioned officer rank insignia can be worn on either the right or left side. 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". Referring to an "O-6", a colonel's pay grade, also may differentiate colonels and lieutenant colonels , who have

950-460: The eagle has a U.S. shield superimposed on its chest and is holding an olive branch and bundle of arrows in its talons . However, in simplification of the Great Seal image, the insignia lacks the scroll in the eagle's mouth and the rosette above its head. On the Great Seal, the olive branch is always clutched in the eagle's right-side talons, while the bundle of arrows is always clutched in

988-699: The eagle to the wearer's right or to the front," with the olive branch clutched in the eagle's right (or forward) hand talons (see Department of the Army Pamphlet 670-1, paragraph 21-6 [a][1]). In the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, NOAA, and the PHSCC, the eagle is worn with "the head facing forward" on the wearer's right side of the garrison cover (see Marine Corps Order P1020.34G, Uniform Regulation, paragraph 4005d[1]). Since respective service's officer insignia

1026-613: The ear flaps. Patrol caps are frequently modified with a "Ranger Roll", inspired by a common practice by U.S. Army Rangers in the 75th Ranger Regiment , in which the sides of the cap are rolled downward, removing the rigid "flat" top; though this is against regulations. Other unauthorized, but common styles of wear include the "Duckbill", the "MLB" and the "Wash and Wear". Patterns have included US Woodland , Six color desert camouflage (DBDU), Three color desert camouflage (DCU), Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP), and Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP). The ACU patrol cap features

1064-527: The insignia is worn on the officer's left side while a mirror-image reverse version is worn on the right side, such that both of the eagles' heads face forward, to the wearer's front. The insignia for a colonel is a silver eagle which is a stylized representation of the eagle dominating the Great Seal of the United States (which is the coat of arms of the United States). As on the Great Seal,

1102-403: The left-side talons. The head of the eagle faces towards the olive branch, rather than the arrows, advocating peace rather than war. As a result, the head of the eagle always faces towards the viewer's left. Some colonel eagles from the 1920s to the 1950s faced the arrows, though this is no longer done. The full-sized colonel eagle is 3/4 inches tall and 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches in diameter from

1140-494: The post-war reduction of the U.S. Army, the rank of colonel disappeared, and was not re-introduced until 1802. The first insignia for the rank of colonel consisted of gold epaulettes worn on the blue uniform of the Continental Army . The rank of colonel was relatively rare in the early 19th century, partly because the U.S. Army was very small, and the rank was usually obtained only after long years of service. During

1178-581: The primary headgear for all Soldiers as the duty uniform headgear after a 10-year hiatus in favor of the beret, according to Army Directive 2001-11. In 1981, following the introduction of the M81 Battle Dress Uniform , the patrol cap was reintroduced. The patrol cap continues to be worn with the Army Combat Uniform , introduced in 2004. The materials are 50% cotton , 50% nylon blend. It has been available in different variants and patterns, such as hot weather models which have eliminated

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1216-449: The professional development of all enlisted members and officers below the grade of colonel , with the exception of Chief Master Sergeants and members of the staff judge advocate . It plays a central role in civilian force shaping and force development initiatives, providing personnel management advisory services, recruitment, and placement support, benefits and entitlements, leadership, and management training and education. APFC manages

1254-781: The rank of colonel during these two wars. The Military Promotion System was revised and standardized for all the services in 1980 as a result of passage of the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act . Contemporary U.S. colonels usually command Army infantry, artillery, armor, aviation, special forces, or other types of brigades or regiments as well as large installations; USMC regiments , Marine Expeditionary Units , Marine Aircraft Groups, or installations such as Marine Corps Bases or Marine Corps Air Stations; USAF groups or wings ; and USSF deltas . An Army colonel typically commands brigade-sized units (4,000 to 6,000 soldiers), with another colonel or

1292-426: The tips of each wing. However, when worn as a single insignia with no matching pair, such as on the patrol cap , garrison cap / flight cap , or the front of the Army, Air Force, or Space Force OCP uniform, there is a split between the services on which mirror image of the eagle should be worn. In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Space Force, the eagle is always worn with "the head of

1330-607: The volunteers during the Spanish–American War , prominent among them Theodore Roosevelt and David Grant Colson . World War I and World War II saw the largest numbers of colonels ever appointed in the U.S. military. This was mostly due to the temporary ranks of the National Army and the Army of the United States , where those who would normally hold the rank of Captain in the peacetime Regular Army were thrust into

1368-481: Was 336 including 198 army officers and the rest divided among other military branches, domestic inter-agency representatives and other foreign military leaders. A high concentration of USAF colonels graduate from the Air War College (AWC) at Maxwell AFB , Alabama via in-residence at Maxwell AFB, while other USAF colonels complete AWC via a non-resident seminar program paralleling the in-residence program or

1406-676: Was constructed of wind-resistant olive-drab cotton poplin , and had a flannel wool panel that folded down to cover the ears and the back of the head. It was soft enough to be worn underneath an M1 helmet . After the Korean War, the cap was replaced by the Ridgeway Cap , a stiffened version of the M1951 made by Falcon and known as the Jump Up cap . The hat became famous outside America after being worn by Fidel Castro . The patrol cap

1444-660: Was replaced altogether in 1962 with a baseball -like "Cap, Field (Hot Weather)"; during the Vietnam War in-country troops were issued the boonie hat . In 1980, the Army introduced the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), which featured a patrol cap similar to the M1951 Field Cap, including the wool panel to cover the ears, except it was in Woodland camouflage . The BDU was replaced, starting in 2004, with

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