Should all officers rise from the ranks?

No..Our officers should be a mix. There are some (not all) great officers from the service academies. IF they are integrated into the services under the tutored ledge of fine NCOs then they should be a well balanced tactical and intelligible force...

I'm glad I did, but I think our military history shows you don't need it. I work with many fine officers that were and were not enlisted, just like great officers come from all commissioning sources.

The concept, deep rooted in tradition, has merit - learn the organization from the bottom up. I don't think that it would be as effective in today's service given the several routes to commissioning available. Like the academies, ROTC uses a rank system to give the semblance of being enlisted during freshman and sophomore years.