Thread:Masterforger/@comment-8944282-20130608183501/@comment-4202322-20130608183834

For a long time, to serve as an officer in the military, you would have to buy a commision, which starts you out as a low-level officer. You can be raised from 'the ranks', but it was rare. The officers and the ranks were two separate classes, the gap between them being money. Officers came from rich families, the ranks were made up of anyone who could do the job and didn't have the power in their family to resist.

From what the heart says about officers, it is obvious they function like old militaries, with commisions being needed to get into the officer ranks.