Very basically speaking, the difference is one step in rank. While a Lt. Colonel is normally referred to a Colonel, a Colonel is sometimes to referred to as a "full bird colonel" to distinguish the difference. In the Army at least, a Lt. Colonel wears a clover leaf rank insignia (silver, I think) but a full Colonel wears an eagle insignia, hence the reference "full bird."
The next rank below that is Lieutenant Colonel. Below that is Major. Below that is Captain. Below that is First Lieutenant, and below that is Second Lieutenant. That's the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
Lieutenant Colonel.
Jeff Cooper was a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps.
A Major is an Commissioned Officer is the military where as a Sergeant is an Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). So yes a Major is higher in rank than a Sergeant.
Lieutenant colonel
It could be the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel.
A bird colonel is a member of the US armed forces with the rank of full colonel, as distinct from a lieutenant colonel.
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) is a higher rank than 1st Lieutenant (1LT). LTC is a fairly senior rank, while 1LT is a junior officer. In the US Army, (commissioned) officer ranks from lowest to highest are: Second Lieutenant First Lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Brigadier General Major General Lieutenant General General General of the Army (AKA "five star general" - this rank was only awarded to WWII era generals like MacArthur and Eisenhower) In the US Army, junior officers (Second Lieutenant - Captain) are referred to as company grade officers, while Majors-Colonels are referred to as field grade. General officers are also known as "flag officers" because they're entitled to fly a personal flag with their rank insignia on it.
Colonel is higher. Lieutenant is a modifier that can be applied to colonel, general and governor and indicates an inferior rank to the rank it modifies.
Highest - lowest. # Field Marshal (Only awarded as an honour) # General # Lieutenant General # Major General # Brigadier # Colonel # Lieutenant Colonel # Major # Captain # Lieutenant # Second Lieutenant # Officer Cadet