SPECOPSLAB

KSK vs Laskuvarjojääkärit

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

GERMANYKommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) — KommandosoldatPFV Phase 1 — minimum standards (Kommandosoldat)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →FINLANDUtin jääkärirykmentti (UJR) — LaskuvarjojääkäritEntrance exam physical tests (valintakokeiden fyysiset testit)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →

Minimum standards, event by event

EventKSKLaskuvarjojääkärit
Pull-ups (overhand, from dead hang)Laskuvarjojääkärit: Pull-ups, underhand, no time limit (leuanveto)7stricter6
Sit-ups (30 s)Laskuvarjojääkärit: Sit-ups in 60 s, hands behind the neck (vatsalihasliike)2032stricter
Push-ups, hand-release (30 s)Laskuvarjojääkärit: Push-ups in 60 s, elbows to 90° (etunojapunnerrus)22same22same
Coordination course2:00only this unit—
Casualty transport (approx. 38 m, 2 obstacles)2:00only this unit—
200 m swim in combat uniform (+ undress in water)Laskuvarjojääkärit: 200 m freestyle swim, no goggles, diving start (uinti)7:304:45stricter
20 km march with 20 kg210 minonly this unit—
12-minute run, pre-selection cut-off (12 minuutin juoksutesti)—3,000 monly this unit
Coordination test — 10 line runs + 10 body-control moves, total time (koordinaatiotesti)—1:45only this unit
Back extensions in 60 s, torso raised 30 cm (selkälihasliike)—40only this unit
Standing long jump, best of 2 (vauhditon pituushyppy)—2 monly this unit
3 km timed run with a backpack of about 10 kg (reppujuoksu)—14:30only 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

KSK sets the higher minimum in: pull-ups.

Laskuvarjojääkärit sets the higher minimum in: sit-ups and swim 200.

Same minimum: push-ups.

KSK tests 7 events, Laskuvarjojääkärit tests 9 events.

Pay

KSK
€4,541 / monthWhat a KSK commando soldier (Kommandosoldat) earns · Oberfeldwebel (A 7) · Stufe 3 · default scenario, grosspartly provisional
LASKUVARJOJÄÄKÄRIT
€185 / monthWhat a conscript paratrooper (laskuvarjojääkäri) gets — and what professional soldiers earn afterwards · Conscript — daily allowance × 30 days (varusmies, päiväraha) · days 1–165 · default scenario, grosspartly provisional

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

Questions

Is KSK or Laskuvarjojääkärit harder to get into?

KSK sets the higher minimum in: pull-ups. Laskuvarjojääkärit sets the higher minimum in: sit-ups and swim 200. Same minimum: 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 KSK and Laskuvarjojääkärit fitness tests differ?

KSK: 7 events (pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, coord, casualty, swim 200, march 20k). Laskuvarjojääkärit: 9 events (cooper, coord., sit-ups, push-ups, back ext, pull-ups, long jump, ruck 3k, swim 200).

Does KSK or Laskuvarjojääkärit pay more?

KSK: €4,541/month (Oberfeldwebel (A 7) · Stufe 3); Laskuvarjojääkärit: €185/month (Conscript — daily allowance × 30 days (varusmies, päiväraha) · days 1–165) (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:
KSK
Laskuvarjojääkärit