New in 2021: Army personnel and promotion changes

One policy of interest to troops: soldiers deployed to combat zones or who are pregnant will be able to temporarily promote to the ranks of sergeant through sergeant major before completing the mandatory professional military education courses under a policy that starts Jan. 1.
Also on the horizon, a phone application for squad leaders to help with administrative tasks and a prototype for what is expected to become a Sergeants Major Assessment Program, said Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston during an Oct. 1 interview.
Many of the changes fall under Grinston’s signature push during his tenure as the ranking enlisted soldier within the Army, known as “This is My Squad.”
Another policy codified in a Sept. 5 memo included some changes for soldiers going before promotion boards in the future.
Rather than simply being asked about regulations or telling a board about their own assignments and accomplishments, soldiers will be asked about those for whom they’re responsible.

Interesting article -- seems though that every board I've been to -- attendee or board member -- has asked those basic leadership questions abour a leader's subordinates. It is sad, that this is "new"

Whoa, wait? The stopped asking about their subordinates to promotion boards participants? Since when? Also, a phone app to replace a leader’s book (or something of that kind)? I will assume it comes with the phone too, right?