Royal University Militias

In 1611, the Spanish Dominicans founded in the city of Manila the University of Santo Tomás, this being the most ancient in the Far East. In 1780, in it were created four Militia Companies, without a fixed number of men, therefore dependent on the total number of pupils studying there. In 1785, the termination of these university militias would have been decreed and only when needed would they have been rearmed.

This unit wore a green coat lined with white linen, with a red collar and facings. Vest and breeches were also green with gold buttons. Shod with black cordovan shoes and white silk stockings. On their heads they wore a hat made of felt, with three points, with gold braid hemmed at its edge and a gold cockade.

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 1 year, 7 months, and 25 days) to augment the capabilities of the Spanish colonial army in the Philippines. The next time that a colonial government in the Philippines would organize a colonial military unit in a colonial university would be in 1912 at the University of the Philippines.

This Spanish colonial militia unit which existed for five years, was first raised in 1762 as a battalion of 200 student volunteers to fight the British. The UST military unit would reemerge 141 years later, in 1936, as an American colonial ROTC unit.

Until 2001 when compulsary military service was abolished in Spain, University Militias (Milicias Universitarias) also known as I.M.E.C. were a method for Spaniards to fulfill military service obligation. Militiamen who completed military training became reserve officers or reserve non-commissioned officers. The progam is still active, and there exists one for each of Spain's services: Army, Navy (I.M.E.C.A.R.), and Air Force.

References

Alía Plana, Jesús María. El Ejército Español en Filipinas: El Periodo Romántico. Madrid: Tabapress, 1993.
Ministerio de Defensa. Uniformes del Ejército de América y Filipinas. Vol. 3: (Sur de los Estados Unidos, Real Cuerpo de Ingenieros, Médicos y Oficiales Civiles de la Administratión Militar. Filipinas) Madrid: Artegraf, S.A., 1991.
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