Army's New Promotion System Could Mean Separations for Some Soldiers

The Army times is good at scaremongering, and the Army leadership doesn't do a very good job describing the changes they are implementing.
When they're talking about separations you're not fully qualified soldiers, they're talking about people you have not completed their SSD prior to becoming eligible for promotion, and then still do not do their SSD another year later. You have to be willfully ignorant fail at doing your SSD for several years straight

I think you'll likely see a further tightening of the standards for Soldiers as the Army implements the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) in FY20 and beyond.

I spoke with one Staff Sergent, E-6 at Ft. Dix, NJ, taking the Master Fitness Course & they were going through the new ACFT training. He told me that no profiles would be allowed for this test (unlike the old Army Physical Fitness Test- APFT), that would mean in order for someone to get promoted- they have to take the ACFT and pass it for their job/fitness-level qualifications.

The ACFT is more challenging than the old APFT, which allowed for profiles and alternate events. With the ACFT implementation, you'll see less fit and older Soldiers retire or get out in my opinion over the next couple of years. This will leave a leaner, meaner fighting force in my opinion.

Officers are promoted through an Order of Merit List. I don't see the problem here.