There are still ways to cheat- alibi firing. If a range NCOIC allows shooters to shoot "alibi targets" (targets they might have missed due to weapons malfunction) a soldier can basically not shoot at any of the 250 or 300 meter targets and use those rounds on the alibi target which is not more than 150 meters away. It's frowned upon of course- but Joe will figure out a way to cheat if it's possible.
The surest method I saw to "pad" your chances without actually cheating was to not shoot the 300 meter target. There are four in the cycle. You save four rounds that way that you can shoot at targets of lesser range and as long as you hit them all you'll still score expert with 36 targets hit. You're not going to shoot perfect that way but if you're not a great shot, it can help out with the other targets- the worst you'll wind up is sharpshooter using that method.
I think the Army marksmanship is and isn't a good test. On the one hand, they're not judging you for accuracy- you barely nick the target and it'll go down as surely as if you hit center mass- on the other hand it is a pop up range where you have to scan your sector and expect targets at a variety of ranges, aquire the target quickly and take a timely shot before it dissappears. In that sense, I think it is a good test overlaying basic marksmanship skills onto a "realistic" environment.
Another point in the article-- they keep mentioning him being an expert at "grenades". That's even more of a joke. You don't even use live grenades when receiving that qualification. If you can low crawl up to a bunker and toss one in, hit an area target from 25 meters away and manage to lob one into a mortar pit or foxhole from 15 meters- you're goochy. Mostly luck is involved- you get a bad bounce you lose.