Assuming an age of 22/ 23 years when first commissioned, it is possible for a "high flyer" to make Lt Col after 12 years, although 15 would be more typical. In the British Army it's common to make Lt Col by late thirties, but not unknown for a few to get there aged 34-35.
In the US Army, a full bird refers to a Colonel, which is the rank between Lieutenant Colonel and Brigadier General.
Lieutenant Colonel.
This is filed under US ARmy and US Navy, so let me clarify.. A Captain in the Army is pay grade O3, whereas a Colonel in the Army is pay grade O6. Colonel is the higher of the two. The Navy has a different rank structure for officers than the other branches. A Captain in the Navy is 06 - equivalent to Colonel. The rank of Colonel does not exist in the Navy.
Lt. Colonel Thomas Hardwick Smith, promoted 16 November 1860, aged 29.
Colonel James Henry Carleton, US Army.
colonel
There is no rank called "colonial." The rank "Colonel" is below General and above Lt. Colonel, Major, Captain, and so on.
Colonel in the US Army. He was also a Green Beret.
Colonel Robert E. Lee of the US Army.
An officer in the United States Army who wears a silver eagle is typically a Colonel, which is a rank above Lieutenant Colonel and below Brigadier General. The silver eagle is worn on their collar insignia denoting their rank.
Captain Seth Thornton, US Army. Colonel Anastasio Torrejon, Mexican Army.
a colonel is a rank for the u.s army