Maybe I'm missing something. Here is what the article said:
Mason said Cudd serves with Army Public Health Command at Fort Knox, Ky. The march was the last event required to earn the Army's Expert Field Medical Badge, a decoration awarded to those who pass a rigorous battery of tests for medical professionals in the Army. Less than 25 percent of those who attempt the required course typically pass. The Public Health Command shared the video May 1, and confirmed Cudd earned the badge. Forty-five other soldiers did the same day — but 80 percent of those who attempted the course fell short.
If only 20-25% of those who attempt the course pass (and conversely 75-80% fail), I find it hard to believe the course is mandatory. Maybe one element of it (the 12-mile march) is required annually for every single person in the US Army (I defer to others on this point), but this course obviously involves more than that -- including other physical challenges -- as this link demonstrates:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expert_Field_Medical_Badge
The link goes on to state: "The pass rate for FY 2013 was 19%, making the EFMB one of the most difficult and prestigious Army skill badges to earn."
Unless anyone on this board has passed the course, it's hard to say how much physical stuff you do each day, what they did before the march, etc. The bottom line is that she did complete the course when 80% of those who started with her failed.
Why aren't we talking negatively about the 80% who failed rather than one who passed and was exhausted at the end?
She earned the Badge when most of her colleagues failed -- to me, that's all that matters. And based on the limited article, it appears she was inspiring to those around her, not causing shame or embarrassment.
I must say that I honestly don't care if an Army veterinarian can march for 12 miles with a rucksack -- or march 12 miles without one. And somehow, I doubt that the vet technicians (or whomever she leads) care either. My only concern is that she takes excellent care of our canine military members, who clearly deserve it!