And making an argument that army issue weapons were heavier..well, yeah, 18 to 20 y/o kids carry them.
The funny thing is that infantry guys aren't happy carrying more weight either. They're still shaving pounds and ounces off their gear where possible (i.e. field stripping MREs). Also the military isn't overly concerned if it blows out the knees of 18 to 20 year olds. The VA can deal with that problem down the road. Not quite the same situation as recreational backpacking/hunting.
