Is the military like this and if not should it be?

I can't say for sure that the military bases it's standards completely on shooting ability, I would say that there would be more reasons to let someone go. You also weren't very specific, what branch of the military is he in? Is he apart of the United States Government, or a foreign one? If he were in the Air force, standards would differ from the standards of say, the Coastguard or the Marines.