The fiscal 2007 defense act directs that any officer nominated for promotion by the Defense Department and the president but who is not confirmed by the Senate within 18 months will be dropped from the list. The act also grants wider authority for the defense secretary and deputy secretary to remove an officer from promotion to grade O-6 and below if they do not consider the officer qualified. In addition, through Oct. 1, 2008, the minimum time in grade for officers to be allowed to retire at that grade will be two years instead of three. This provision would apply only to help reduce overages in specific grades or year groups. Also, a selection board could not recommend promotion for an officer whose record contains adverse information unless a majority of the board members agree that the officer meets standards of fully qualified and exemplary conduct.