Chief of the General Staff Admiral Mei Chia-shu presided over the appointment ceremony for the Commander of the Armed Forces Reserve Command on the 4th, encouraging all personnel to unite under the leadership of the newly appointed Commander Yu and continue strengthening overall reserve combat capabilities.

        The ceremony was held in the morning at Zhong’ai Camp. After Chief of the General Staff Mei read out the appointment order, Lieutenant General Yu was sworn in as the new commander. On behalf of Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo, General Mei also presented Lt. Gen. Yu with the Fourth Class Order of Resplendent Banner, recognizing his outstanding dedication and contributions in service.

        General Mei noted that Lt. Gen. Yu has completed advanced studies at the National Defense University’s Command and Staff College and War College, and holds a master’s degree in National Security and Mainland China Studies from National Chengchi University. He has previously served in a number of key positions, including Director of the Materiel Mobilization Management Division at the All-out Defense Mobilization Agency, Deputy Commander of the Army’s 8th Corps, Commander of the Hualien Defense Command, and Commander of the Army Training and Evaluation Command.

        General Mei pointed out that he and Commander Yu had worked closely together on multiple occasions during past reforms of brigade-level ground force combat training, during which Lt. Gen. Yu demonstrated strong commitment and provided extensive support. He expressed confidence that, with his solid academic background and dedicated sense of public service, Commander Yu would lead the Armed Forces Reserve Command to continued growth and steady development.

         “A unit’s greatest priority is ensuring the effectiveness of the organization as a whole,” General Mei said. He noted that reserve force capabilities have improved significantly in recent years. Through repeated reviews and adjustments to personnel management, overall mission positioning, and civil–military integration mechanisms, the role of the reserve system has become clearer and its functions increasingly vital.

        General Mei further emphasized that Taiwan’s defense posture rests on three pillars: military power, all-of-society defense, and whole-of-government operations. Within this framework, the Armed Forces Reserve Command and the All-out Defense Mobilization Agency play leading roles in the latter two areas, and the effective wartime operation of societal resources and cross-government coordination mechanisms is no less important than that of a combat theater.

        “Having weapons does not guarantee victory; what truly makes us invincible is all of you,” General Mei said. He noted that many initiatives were built from the ground up or represented breakthroughs on existing foundations, achievements and changes he personally witnessed and took part in alongside many colleagues. He expressed particular appreciation for the efforts of the All-out Defense Mobilization Agency and the Armed Forces Reserve Command, whose strengths in their respective fields have helped ensure that these efforts have borne fruit.

        In closing, General Mei encouraged the Armed Forces Reserve Command to continue building on its solid foundation and striving for further improvement. He expressed confidence that, with the high level of attention and support it now receives, the reserve system will become an indispensable force in national defense operations. (Youth Daily News)