telephone colonel

Army and Air Force Lieutenant Colonels (O-5) aka Light Colonels are customarilly addressed as "Colonel" on the phone or in the salutation in letters. This is sometimes is used to their advantage to obtain the preferential treatment afforded Full or "Bird" Colonels (O-6) which is a flag grade.

"Good Morning. New Sanno Hotel. How can I help you?"
"Yes, this is Colonel Smith--I'd like to reserve a V.I.P. suite for next weekend."
"Yes, sir, are you a full colonel?"
"Uh, um, no, I'm a lieutenant colonel."
"Sorry, sir, the V.I.P. suites are only available to flag grade officers not telephone colonels!"

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