; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections: (b) Bases for competitive categories Competitive categories shall be established on the bases as follows: (1) Officers occupying similar officer qualifications, specialties, occupations, or ratings shall be grouped together. (2) Promotion timing, promotion opportunity, and officer career length shall each be tailored to particular officer qualifications, specialties, occupations, or ratings. (c) Consistency not required in promotion timing or opportunity In establishing competitive categories, the Secretary of a military department shall not be required to provide consistency in promotion timing or promotion opportunity among competitive categories of the armed force concerned. . 509. Promotion zone matters (a) Alignment with annual defense manpower requirements reports Subsection (b) of section 623 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (3), by striking and at the end; (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and