You bring up an interesting point. However, don't we want the best of the best to lead soldiers? Sure, bring more women into combat but you still want performance otherwise failure can bring tragedy.
So, how many Americans have died because of an officer able to carry a 124 pound backpack but too stupid to be in the role? I’d rather have brains entered into the equation, not just brawn.
Anyway, is 124 pounds a relevant and meaningful measure today? And back to the article, was the pace consistent? The article suggests there might be more to this story than the initial headline that they failed.
One of the primary concepts of leadership is that you won’t ask another to do something you won’t/can’t do yourself.