WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army has made important changes to enlisted promotion and retention policies due to the current COVID-19 pandemic to take care of its Soldiers and maintain a ready force.Changes to enlisted promotion policy include the opportunity for battalion commanders to authorize virtual promotion boards, suspension of the one-year expiration date for the Army Physical Fitness Test (the APFT will be maintained as a promotion eligibility requirement), suspension of the two-year expiration of the weapons qualification, and suspension of pin-on requirements for the Advanced Leader Course and the Senior Leader Course.Soldiers may request to reenlist or extend for a period of three to 23 months with approval from their immediate commanders. Battalion commanders will have the option to authorize either virtual promotion boards or they may recognize recommendations for promotion based off the input of the chain of command and the NCO support channel."We are taking unprecedented and immediate action to keep the right people in the right rank when we need them the most," said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston. “Force health protection is the Army’s top priority. We are constantly assessing the situation and refining guidance to the force. It's going to take the whole Army working together and adapting as we go, but we will kill the virus."For more information on reenlistments and extensions, Soldiers should contact their career counselors.