Royal Marines vs Rangers
Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of Royal Marines and Rangers, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATESMinimum standards, event by event
| Event | Royal Marines | Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-stage fitness test (bleep), level | 11only this unit | — |
| Pull-ups (overhand)Rangers: Pull-ups | 5 | 6stricter |
| Push-upsRangers: Hand-release (T) push-ups, 2 min | 40 | 41stricter |
| Sit-ups | 50only this unit | — |
| Plank | — | 2:35only this unit |
| 5-mile run | — | 40:00only this unit |
| 12-mile foot march, 35 lb rucksack and weapon | — | 180 minonly 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
Rangers sets the higher minimum in: pull-ups and push-ups.
Royal Marines tests 4 events, Rangers tests 5 events.
Pay
Amounts are in each country’s own currency and are not converted.
Questions
Is Royal Marines or Rangers harder to get into?
Rangers sets the higher minimum in: pull-ups and 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 Royal Marines and Rangers fitness tests differ?
Royal Marines: 4 events (bleep, pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups). Rangers: 5 events (push-ups, plank, pull-ups, 5-mile run, ruck 12mi).
Does Royal Marines or Rangers pay more?
Royal Marines: £27,282/year; Rangers: $3,980/month (default scenarios, gross). The amounts are in different currencies and depend on taxes and cost of living, so we do not rank them.
- Minimum — royalnavy.mod.uk — Commando Recruit Orientation Phase (2026-10-18)