The program we now know as the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) was instituted in 1916 during World War I to prepare leaders for military service in Europe.  In 1951, during the Korean War, ROTC began at the University of Scranton. In the 1950's, the university was all male, and everyone had to take ROTC for the first two years. During this time the Cadet regiment was over a thousand strong.

In 1969 ROTC became voluntary and the university became co-educational. Cadet enrollment declined significantly during the Vietnam Conflict and the program almost closed. Reverend Joseph A. Rock, who was very passionate about keeping the program, wrote to congress in 1975 and the closure was averted. The reverend Rock was also instrumental in the creation of the ROTC unit crest which is still worn by cadets to this day. In 1996 the NEPA (North East Pennsylvania) ROTC moved its headquarters to “Rock Hall” named for the Reverend who devoted so much time and support to the program. The program steadily grew in strength again until the early 1990's when the cadet population numbered around 100. In 1994, the battalion was officially renamed the "North East Pennsylvania Battalion". In 1995 Father Panuska, the University President, once again placed emphasis on ROTC and the “Royal Warrior Battalion” has been expanding since that time. Several incentives, such as free room and board were approved for students who won high school ROTC Scholarships and the University became an Army Partner in Nursing Education.

The Royal Warrior’s Ranger Challenge team won the Darby Division in 2009. The Ranger Challenge event tests the cadets ability to navigate rope bridge crossings in a timed event, weapons assembly and disassembly, timed road march on a 10K course, the army physical fitness test, day and night land navigation, evacuation of a casualty, and orienteering and patrolling techniques. This competition is an annual event the Royal Warriors compete in against 48 other colleges and Universities. All ROTC cadets learn the skills used during the Ranger Challenge competition and the best of the best get to challenge the other schools.  In 2010 the Battalion was recognized by U.S. Army Cadet Command and the 2nd ROTC Brigade during the annual Commander's Conference for exceeding both the unit's Line and Nurse Commission Missions.

As the Army became more advanced through the years, so did the training in the ROTC program at the University. Royal Warrior cadets now routinely spend their summers abroad in exciting training such as Airborne (Military Parachuting), Air Assault, Mountain Warfare ( Vermont), Northern Warfare ( Alaska), the Leadership Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis (Washington) or training with active army units both here and in other countries. The training is challenging, rewarding, and provides a glimpse into the exciting career before them. 

The Royal Warrior Battalion Cadets have always been active in the community as well.  Cadets are often speakers at veteran ceremonies, providing the honor guard for special events or participating in the “Race for the Cure.”

From its inception in the 1951, six decades ago, the Royal Warrior Battalion has enjoyed a storied and rich history whose alumni have gone to the far corners of the globe and back to serve the Army and the Nation.  From 1955 to 2010, the Royal Warrior Battalion has commissioned 1,101 Second Lieutenants in the Active Army, Army National Guard or U.S. Army Reserve.