SPECOPSLAB

KSK vs SUV

Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of KSK and SUV, 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 →LATVIASpeciālo uzdevumu vienība (SUV) — kaujinieki un reindžeriSUV entry test (ievadtests): circuit + 10 km marchOFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →

Minimum standards, event by event

EventKSKSUV
Pull-ups (overhand, from dead hang)7only this unit—
Sit-ups (30 s)20only this unit—
Push-ups, hand-release (30 s)22only this unit—
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)7:30only this unit—
20 km march with 20 kg210 minonly this unit—
Entry circuit, 7 tasks: 800 m, 30 push-ups, 100 m, 16 × 20 kg sandbag, 50 m carry, 20 squats, 800 m (ievadtests)—14:00only this unit
10 km march with a 15 kg pack (pārgājiens)—90 minonly 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.

KSK tests 7 events, SUV tests 2 events.

Pay

KSK
€4,541 / monthWhat a KSK commando soldier (Kommandosoldat) earns · Oberfeldwebel (A 7) · Stufe 3 · default scenario, grosspartly provisional
SUV
€1,493–€1,719 / monthWhat a SUV operator earns · Seržants · OR-5 (II kategorija) · 6.–7. · default scenario, grosspartly provisional

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

Questions

Is KSK or SUV 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 KSK and SUV fitness tests differ?

KSK: 7 events (pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, coord, casualty, swim 200, march 20k). SUV: 2 events (circuit, march 10k).

Does KSK or SUV pay more?

KSK: €4,541/month (Oberfeldwebel (A 7) · Stufe 3); SUV: €1,493–€1,719/month (Seržants · OR-5 (II kategorija) · 6.–7.) (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
SUV