After the war, it became obvious that the nation needed professional officers to lead its Army.
It was not a professional officer who came through the door, but a great hulk of a man.
In the old days they would have had no chance to become professional officers.
What I think you are, is a professional officer who's never learned to play the political game.
They headed down the corridor together, three professional officers from the same great family, whose needs always came first.
At division level and below mostly professional officers were in command.
This guy was supposed to be a professional military officer.
And a professional officer at that, a product of the long, gray line.
However, professional officers were permanent soldiers and paid by the state.
The most immediate reason was the lack of professional officers.