University of the East (UE) is one of the best universities in the Philippines. As a requirement for obtaining a baccalaureate degree, male students (optional for female students) undergo basic military training supervised by active officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The military training is titled Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC). ROTC is structured into Basic and Advanced courses. Basic course is sufficient to meet the academic graduation requirements. Advanced ROTC is offered to and taken by more leadership oriented individuals. Completion of the requirements of the UE Advanced ROTC automatically qualifies one membership in the UE Knights.

UE Knights as an organization is very honored and proud to have among its membership top leaders in their profession, in business and industry, in the government, and in the police and military services who continue to uphold the ideals of Integrity, Honor, Duty, and Courage. UE Knights brothers are bound by the principles of esprit de corps and camaraderie and by their noble traditions of loyalty, courtesy, and discipline.

Elbert Hubbard essay, in part says: "If you work for a man, in heaven's name work for him; speak well of him and stand by the institution he represents. Remember — an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness ... If you must growl, condemn, and eternally find fault, why — resign your position and when you are on the outside, damn to your heart's content. But, as long as you are part of the institution, do not condemn it; if you do, the first high wind that comes along will blow you away, and probably you will never know why."