In the Canadian Forces, the rank of colonel (Col) (French: colonel or col) is an army or air force rank equal to a captain of the navy. A colonel is the highest rank of senior officer. A colonel is senior to a lieutenant-colonel or naval commander, and junior to a brigadier-general or commodore. Typical appointments for colonels include: Colonels are addressed by rank and name; thereafter by subordinates as "Sir" or "Ma'am". Before unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, rank structure and insignia followed the British pattern.