A single silver oak leaf serves as the rank insignia for United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. Most commonly associated with male and female Service Uniforms, the insignia is worn on 5/8 from the end of each epaulet with the stem pointing away from the collar.
In addition to the full-size USAF Lieutenant Colonel rank insignia, we also carry a miniature size metal rank insignia (3/4) that is worn by Officers on the colored berets authorized for Combat Rescue Officers (maroon beret), Special Tactics Officers (scarlet), Weather Parachutist and Special Reconnaissance Officers (pewter gray), and Tactical Air Control Party Officers (black).
The insignia is worn beneath the flash device or crest associated with or organizational crest also worn on the berets; specific guidance on positioning the flash and rank insignia is delineated in A7.7, “Miscellaneous Uniforms,” found in Attachment 7 "Distinctive Uniforms, Items and Equipment” of a June 2021 Air Force Guidance Memorandum to AFI 36-2903,
Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel.
More USAF Lieutenant Colonel Insignias and DevicesIn years gone by, miniature insignias were also worn uniform shirts. Numerous sources indicate that a miniature version of Officers’ insignia of grade was worn with khaki shirts, as well as with a light-blue, short-sleeved shirt paired with black trousers in the 1970s.
One example of miniature-sized grade insignia being worn on shirts is found in the 1951
Air Officer’s Guide: “An officer’s insignia of grade will be silver- or gold-colored metal or silver- or gold-colored wired embroidery. Regular-size insignia will be worn on shoulder loops with miniature-sized optional for wear on shirt collar when shirts are worn as outer garments.” (Hat tip to the
U.S. Militaria Forum for tracking down the regulation. Fifth Edition of the Guide is archived on the
Haithi Trust Digital Library.)