Para-Cdo vs SFG
Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of Para-Cdo and SFG, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.
BELGIUMPara-Commando — Special Operations Regiment (2 Cdo, 3 Para)PIM end tests and tests de combat (soldier)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →BELGIUMSpecial Forces Group (SFG) — Special Forces OperatorSOF admission tests and cadre tests de combat (SF operator candidate)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →Minimum standards, event by event
| Event | Para-Cdo | SFG |
|---|---|---|
| Pull-ups, chin over the bar (tractions)SFG: Pull-ups (tractions) | 6stricter | 5 |
| Toes to barSFG: Toes to bar, right after the pull-ups | 1same | 1same |
| Sit-ups, hands behind the neck, feet on the ground, knees bent (sit-up)SFG: Sit-ups (sit-up) | 35 | 40stricter |
| 8 km run (endurance) | 44:00 | 40:00stricter |
| Rope course in combat uniform with jacket and boots (piste corde)SFG: Rope course in combat uniform with jacket and boots (piste de corde) | 2:30 | 2:20stricter |
| Obstacle course in combat uniform with jacket and boots (piste d’obstacles) | 4:30 | 4:15stricter |
| Fireman’s carry, 200 m with jacket, boots, webbing and weapon (porter homme) | 1:40 | 1:20stricter |
| 16 km speed march with jacket, boots, webbing and weapon (speed marche) | 120 min | 100 minstricter |
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
Para-Cdo sets the higher minimum in: pull-ups.
SFG sets the higher minimum in: sit-ups, run 8k, rope, obstacles, carry 200, and march 16k.
Same minimum: toes2bar.
Para-Cdo tests 8 events, SFG tests 8 events.
Pay
Amounts are in each country’s own currency and are not converted.
Questions
Is Para-Cdo or SFG harder to get into?
Para-Cdo sets the higher minimum in: pull-ups. SFG sets the higher minimum in: sit-ups, run 8k, rope, obstacles, carry 200, and march 16k. Same minimum: toes2bar. 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 Para-Cdo and SFG fitness tests differ?
Para-Cdo: 8 events (pull-ups, toes2bar, sit-ups, run 8k, rope, obstacles, carry 200, march 16k). SFG: 8 events (pull-ups, toes2bar, sit-ups, run 8k, rope, obstacles, carry 200, march 16k).
Does Para-Cdo or SFG pay more?
Para-Cdo: €3,603/month (Caporal / korporaal (Cpl) · annexe A, tableau 12 · 4 yrs); SFG: €4,173/month (Sergent / sergeant (Sgt) · annexe A, tableau 7 · 4 yrs) (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 — soldier (PIM end tests + IPS combat tests) — La Défense — brochure « Candidat SOF / Paracommando » (v4.0/2024), épreuves sportives PIM et tests de combat SOF / Paracommando (2026-01-16)
- Minimum — under 35 (admission tests + SOF Basic Course combat tests) — La Défense — brochure « Candidat SOF / Paracommando » (v4.0/2024), épreuves d’admission cadres et tests de combat cadres (fin SOF BC) (2026-01-16)