Private Benjamin was a comedy.
For a reason.
“By doing predictive tests we can marry people up with those specialties that physically they should be able to do, which should reduce attrition and be a better fit for the Army”
Sounds like a good idea. This will also improve the evaluation of male candidates as well.
This isn’t lowering the standards. Nowhere did the article say the tests superseded/replaced the APFT. These are tests done during recruiting to help direct recruits to jobs that they are better physically suited. It will help discourage recruits, male and female, from signing up for MOSs that they cannot handle physically.
Not to mention that is they did lower the standards for women in IOC then there would be a reaction that, if nothing else, would be interesting to watch.