Identify the Royal Air Force rank that is equivalent to a lieutenant colonel in other branches of the military.

The rank of group captain in the Royal Air Force is equivalent to a lieutenant colonel in other branches of the military, such as the Army and the Royal Marines. This equivalency is primarily based on the hierarchical structure and responsibilities present within military organizations.

In the RAF, a group captain typically commands a group of squadrons and has a significant leadership role, similar to how a lieutenant colonel commands a battalion in other services. The knowledge of rank equivalencies is essential for understanding the organizational structure and interactions between different branches of the military.

Other ranks, like air commodore, wing commander, and squadron leader, occupy different levels in the RAF hierarchy. Air commodore is a higher rank than group captain, while wing commander and squadron leader are lower ranks, making group captain the correct comparison to lieutenant colonel.