I've actually had a few ideas on how I would do it if I ever started up a fanfiction account and did a RWBY fanfic.
First idea I had is actually try to do more to show that he has a tactical mind but still have him be out of his depth at first due to lack of preparation. Like have home be a military geek who would have studied up on various battles before going to Beacon.
Second idea I had is to have Jaune originally plan to be a Huntsmen when he was very young, even get some basic training, but after either a death, or near death in the family, Jaune's mom basicly against the idea of him becoming a Huntsmen. Rather then abuse her authority though she would heavily cry at the merest provocation that her son might enter a dangerous line of work. Basicly she would guilt trip him into saying he wasn't going to go to a combat school. In secret however Jaune still condition himself, though being self taught he was Noel where near the level of the other Beacon intiats during the initiation test. This would also help to explain why he's strong enough to carry around his sword and shield with out much problems as well as the fact he was in shape to do all the running he did in the Emerald forest, matching the pace of the rest of the soon to be team members of team RWBY and JNPR, and not break a sweat.
The third idea that came to me was when I came across someone trying to tie in the Themes of the "Edge of tomorrow movie." Joan of Arc was known to have missions of he future. So why not have Jaune and the rest of the Arc family have intense dreams or visions of events that will transpire. Basicly he had a vision that he and members of his family where going to die but he wasn't too sure on the details. So he decides to become a Huntsmen to change the date of himself and his family. That way even if he dies, he'll die doing something meaningful.
All three of those ideas would add additional depth to Jaune's character while still allowing him to initially enroll at Beacon as the underdog character with very good leadership potential.
-Defcon Deceiver