OFFICERS FROM THE RANKS

The entire army has now become a training school for officers, according to General Pershing's plan for the promotion of enlisted men. All who show sufficient ability are to be detached from each unit to take special instruction with the purpose of obtaining a commission. In this way it is intended to form a large corps of reserve lieutenants.

Because of the draft system this is an especially just and far-sighted program. In the future, as they have in the past, many non-coms, will rise to high positions. The abundance among draftees of men with natural ability to lead is to be taken advantage of. Both individual and organization will gain, for the former will render the most service he can, while the latter develops to the full its potential powers.

We are directly concerned by this new scheme, since a commission is the diploma of our military education, the present goal of most undergraduates. Abolition of Plattsburg officers' training camps together with the encouraged promotion of men from the ranks, leaves preliminary instruction more necessary than ever. Whether or not the present system of sending men to Yaphank continues, we know that ultimately a man of sufficient calibre will be an officer, and that thorough preparation will hasten the attainment of this end. The duty of R. O. T. C.'s is to provide not merely candidates for special camps, but soldiers with sufficient bearing and knowledge to mark them out at once as leaders. To all who are so trained General Pershing's plan assures a commission.