SPECOPSLAB

GSG 9 vs Kampfschwimmer

Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of GSG 9 and Kampfschwimmer, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.

GERMANYGSG 9 der Bundespolizei — EinsatzbeamterEignungsauswahlverfahren (EAV) — sports test minimumsAPPROXIMATElast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →GERMANYKommando Spezialkräfte der Marine (KSM) — KampfschwimmerPFV I — minimum sports requirementsOFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →

Minimum standards, event by event

EventGSG 9Kampfschwimmer
Bench press at 75% of body weight (reps)Kampfschwimmer: Bench press 50 kg (reps)1015stricter
Strict pull-ups (overhand, shoulder-width, from dead hang)Kampfschwimmer: Pull-ups (overhand)10stricter8
Cooper test (12-minute run)3,000 monly this unit—
100 m sprint13.4 sonly this unit—
Standing long jump2.4 monly this unit—
Indoor obstacle course (Hallenhindernisbahn, 14 obstacles)3:30only this unit—
5,000 m run—22:00only this unit
1,000 m swim—24:00only this unit
Static breath-hold dive—60 sonly this unit
Underwater distance swim—30 monly 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

GSG 9 sets the higher minimum in: pull-ups.

Kampfschwimmer sets the higher minimum in: bench 50.

GSG 9 tests 6 events, Kampfschwimmer tests 6 events.

Pay

GSG 9
€4,301 / monthWhat a GSG 9 operator earns · Polizeiobermeister (A 8) · Stufe 3 · default scenario, grosspartly provisional
KAMPFSCHWIMMER
€5,097 / monthWhat a combat swimmer (Kampfschwimmer) earns · Hauptbootsmann (A 8) · Stufe 5 · default scenario, grosspartly provisional

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

Questions

Is GSG 9 or Kampfschwimmer harder to get into?

GSG 9 sets the higher minimum in: pull-ups. Kampfschwimmer sets the higher minimum in: bench 50. 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 GSG 9 and Kampfschwimmer fitness tests differ?

GSG 9: 6 events (bench 75%, pull-ups, cooper, sprint 100, long jump, obstacle). Kampfschwimmer: 6 events (run 5k, swim 1k, breath, dive dist, pull-ups, bench 50).

Does GSG 9 or Kampfschwimmer pay more?

GSG 9: €4,301/month (Polizeiobermeister (A 8) · Stufe 3); Kampfschwimmer: €5,097/month (Hauptbootsmann (A 8) · Stufe 5) (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:
GSG 9
Kampfschwimmer