UNIT HISTORY

De La Salle University – Manila was established in 1911 by the De La Salle Brothers as a private, Catholic coeducational research university. Its ROTC unit was established in 1936, shortly after the ratification of the Commonwealth Act Nr. 1 -- commonly known as the National Defense Act. During the Second World War, the DLSU ROTC graduates formed a part of the reservist forces. Tragically, a number were massacred by Japanese forces including the sixteen (16) Lasallian Brothers inside the school chapel on the 12th of February 1945. The Japanese invaders were successfully repelled by the cadets after having joined the Hunters ROTC guerilla group, which was a coalition of cadets working in intelligence and civilian protection affairs.

Later, the DLSU ROTC Unit was formally organized, under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Navy (PN) in February 1952 with its first Commandant being LT JOSE M VASQUEZ PN. It was designated as the 247th Naval ROTC Unit in the country, reporting to Naval Reserve Center - NCR (NRCen-NCR). This program was expanded in 1995 to require male students to serve as a cadet for two (2) years. Later, in 2001, the National Service Training Program Act of 2001 was implemented. This law gave students the option to serve the country through other non-military programs.

Since 2002, the unit has produced multiple awardees of the AFP Cadet/Cadette of the Year and Midshipman/woman of the Year. These awards are given by the AFP to outstanding performers in the ROTC units of the region. As a historic hallmark in the Navy reserves, the year 2012 saw both Cadet and Cadette of the year coming from DLSU. The unit has also been recipient to several Local Annual General Tactical Inspection (LAGTI) and National Annual General Tactical Inspection (NAGTI) medals, triumphing over other ROTC units in those years. LaSallian excellence is not limited to Philippine contexts, however; since 2015, cadet officers from the unit have represented the country in the Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency Program in Guam, USA.

The COVID-19 Pandemic arrived in the early part of 2020. Cadets, officers, and training staff alike had many plans for the Batch 119 cadets undergoing MS1 -- one of which was the redesignation of companies to be more akin to that of the AFP; instead of cadets sorted into the specialty companies such as Medics, Shore Patrol, and Navigators, they were instead equally divided by section into Headquarters, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta companies. This configuration allowed the cadets to equally equip themselves with the same knowledge and specialties. Notwithstanding a scramble to transition into a full-online setup in Zoom, the implementation of the MS1 of that year was not without hiccups. Despite the trials, however, the Corps strived to never lose focus on their mission to be steadfast and adaptable pillars in which cadets could trust their military education with. From switching to regular Zoom sessions to Zoom Conference mode (to accommodate the number of cadets), learning to be more technologically proficient to serve the needs of the unit, and fostering camaraderie with shipmates miles away, the unit is committed in its efforts to maintain critical support and deliver a lasting impact.

In the DLSU 247TH NROTCU, cadets strive to embody the LaSallian values of Discipline, Loyalty, Service, and Unity. With this, the unit complies with the Naval Reserve Command (NAVRESCOM) mission statement of organising Naval reservists to act as the base of expansion for the Philippine Navy when called upon for any cause. The training and development of students in the rudiments of military service to produce capable AFP reservists, as the 247th NROTCU mission, directly adheres to the AFP’s goal of securing the sovereignty of the State and integrity of national territory. Beyond fulfilling warfighting readiness and socio-economic assistance, the core of the 247th NROTCU is to serve the country as a team. With the bearing of one instilled in a LaSallian culture of excellence, each cadet is ready to answer the Navy’s call to operational readiness. As in the university’s alma mater: we hold our banner high and bright -- for the school, for ourselves, and for our nation.