SPECOPSLAB

Comandos vs CTOE

Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of Comandos and CTOE, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.

PORTUGALRegimento de Comandos — ComandosSpecial Forces prerequisites — physical tests (pré-requisitos, provas físicas)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →PORTUGALCentro de Tropas de Operações Especiais (CTOE) — Operações EspeciaisSpecial Forces prerequisites — physical tests (pré-requisitos, provas físicas)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →

Minimum standards, event by event

EventComandosCTOE
Pull-ups on a fixed bar (flexões de braços na barra)CTOE: Pull-ups on a bar (flexões de braços na barra)8stricter5
Push-ups (extensão de braços no solo)3032stricter
Sit-ups in 2 min (abdominais)CTOE: Sit-ups in 1 min (abdominais)60stricter40
8 km march with equipment and a 5 kg load (marcha)60 minonly this unit—
2,500 m run (corrida)—12:00only this unit
Squat jumps (flexão e extensão de pernas com salto)—35only this unit
15 km march, armed, equipped, 10 kg load (marcha)—120 minonly this unit

Events in the same row are similar but not identical — read the event names.

Higher levels (e.g. competitive or elevated standards) and your gap to each are in the paid report.

Where the bar is higher

Comandos sets the higher minimum in: pull-ups and sit-ups.

CTOE sets the higher minimum in: push-ups.

Comandos tests 4 events, CTOE tests 6 events.

Pay

COMANDOS
€1,820 / monthWhat a Comando earns · Primeiro-cabo · Praças (níveis TRU 10–11) · 1.ª posição · default scenario, gross
CTOE
€2,199 / monthWhat a Special Operations soldier earns · Segundo-sargento · Sargentos (níveis TRU 16–17) · 1.ª posição · default scenario, gross

Amounts are in each country’s own currency and are not converted.

Questions

Is Comandos or CTOE harder to get into?

Comandos sets the higher minimum in: pull-ups and sit-ups. CTOE sets the higher minimum in: push-ups. These are only the published fitness minimums; selection itself, medical and other requirements differ, and passing the minimum does not guarantee selection.

How do the Comandos and CTOE fitness tests differ?

Comandos: 4 events (pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, march 8k). CTOE: 6 events (run 2500, push-ups, pull-ups, squat jump, sit-ups, march 15k).

Does Comandos or CTOE pay more?

Comandos: €1,820/month (Primeiro-cabo · Praças (níveis TRU 10–11) · 1.ª posição); CTOE: €2,199/month (Segundo-sargento · Sargentos (níveis TRU 16–17) · 1.ª posição) (default scenarios, gross). The default scenarios use different ranks and seniority, so this is not a like-for-like comparison — set the same rank in the pay calculator on each unit page.

Sources:
Comandos
CTOE