These Royal University militia companies were part of the colonial militia organized after the British occupation of Manila—6 October 1762 through 31 May 1764, or one year, seven months, and twenty-five days—to augment the capabilities of the Spanish colonial army in the Philippines. These Spanish colonial militia units which existed for five years, were first raised in 1762 when two hundred student volunteers were formed into four companies to fight the British. After the disbandment of the Royal University Militias in 1785, the UST military unit would reemerge 151 years later, in 1936, as an American colonial ROTC unit.