Green Berets vs MARSOC
Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of Green Berets and MARSOC, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.
UNITED STATESU.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets)Army Fitness Test — combat standard (18X entry)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →UNITED STATESMARSOC — Marine Raider (Critical Skills Operator)Screening prerequisites (1st class PFT, swim)APPROXIMATElast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →Minimum standards, event by event
| Event | Green Berets | MARSOC |
|---|---|---|
| 3-repetition maximum deadlift (MDL) | 150 lbonly this unit | — |
| Hand-release push-ups (HRP) | 15only this unit | — |
| Sprint-drag-carry (SDC) | 2:28only this unit | — |
| Plank (PLK)MARSOC: Plank (PFT) | 1:30 | 2:54stricter |
| Two-mile run (2MR) | 19:57only this unit | — |
| Pull-ups (PFT) | — | 20only this unit |
| 3-mile run (PFT) | — | 22:50only 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
MARSOC sets the higher minimum in: plank.
Green Berets tests 5 events, MARSOC tests 3 events.
Pay
Amounts are in each country’s own currency and are not converted.
Questions
Is Green Berets or MARSOC harder to get into?
MARSOC sets the higher minimum in: plank. 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 Green Berets and MARSOC fitness tests differ?
Green Berets: 5 events (deadlift, hr push-up, sdc, plank, 2-mile run). MARSOC: 3 events (pull-ups, plank, 3-mile run).
Does Green Berets or MARSOC pay more?
Green Berets: $7,639/month (E-6 · >8); MARSOC: $6,640/month (E-5 · >4) (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.
- Minimum — 60 points per event (ages 17–21) — Army Fitness Test Score Tables (approved 15 May 2025, effective 1 Jun 2025); Army Directive 2025-06, par. 4b(1) (2025-06-01)
- 350 total — 70 points in every event (ages 17–21) — Army Fitness Test Score Tables (70-point row, M|C 17–21); combat standard 350 — army.mil/aft, Army Directive 2025-06 (2025-06-01)
- 1st class example — 240 points (men 21–25) — MCO 6100.13A w/Admin CH-5 (PFT tables, Table 2-1: 1st class 235–300); MARADMIN 221/07, par. 7.C (2025-05-28)