Green Berets vs USCG DSF
Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of Green Berets and USCG DSF, 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 STATESU.S. Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces (MSRT / TACLET) — Tactical OperatorTactical Operator screener: PFA + 5 chin-ups and 5 pull-ups (2024)APPROXIMATElast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →Minimum standards, event by event
| Event | Green Berets | USCG DSF |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 1:30only this unit | — |
| Two-mile run (2MR) | 19:57only this unit | — |
| Chin-ups | — | 5only this unit |
| Pull-ups | — | 5only this unit |
Higher levels (e.g. competitive or elevated standards) and your gap to each are in the paid report.
Where the bar is higher
The two tests have no directly comparable events, so the minimums cannot be ranked against each other.
Green Berets tests 5 events, USCG DSF tests 2 events.
Pay
Amounts are in each country’s own currency and are not converted.
Questions
Is Green Berets or USCG DSF harder to get into?
The two tests have no directly comparable events, so the minimums cannot be ranked against each other. 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 USCG DSF fitness tests differ?
Green Berets: 5 events (deadlift, hr push-up, sdc, plank, 2-mile run). USCG DSF: 2 events (chin-ups, pull-ups).
Does Green Berets or USCG DSF pay more?
Green Berets: $7,639/month (E-6 · >8); USCG DSF: $4,253/month (E-5 · >3) (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)
- Minimum at the Tactical Operator screener (AY25) — USCG ALCGPSC 079/24 — AY25 Tactical Operator Screener Solicitation (2024-06-10)