Colonels usually command infantry brigades, USAF groups or wings, and USMC regiments. An Air Force colonel typically commands a wing consisting of 1,000 to 3,000 airmen with a Command Chief Master Sergeant as principal NCO advisor. Colonels are also found as the chief of staff at divisional level-(Army) or Numbered Air Force-level staff agencies. The Colonel is the first rank above
Lieutenant Colonel and stands below
Brigadier General.
In the modern United States armed forces, the Colonel's eagle is worn facing inwards with head and beak pointing towards the wearer's neck. Of all US Military commissioned officer rank, only 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-bird" or "O-6" (which is their pay grade) in order to differentiate between Colonels and Lieutenant Colonels, since Lieutenant Colonels are also referred to and addressed as simply "Colonel".
