The problem is the reporters have not been associated with the military and have no idea how it works. This is ludicrous at best. Not going to fly, you don't take a flight physical. In those days, flight surgeons were in short supply to do these physicals. Not just any doctor could give a flight physical -- it had to be a flight surgeon.
Don't be so naive. These "reporters" could care less how the military works. All they're interested in is misleading the public into thinking that Bush shirked his military duty.