SPECOPSLAB

SASR / Commando vs Royal Marines

Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of SASR / Commando and Royal Marines, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.

AUSTRALIAAustralian Army — Special Forces Operator (SASR, 1st & 2nd Commando Regiment)Special Forces PFA (Pre-entry Fitness Assessment)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →UNITED KINGDOMRoyal Marines CommandoRoyal Marines Fitness Test (RMFT)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →

Minimum standards, event by event

EventSASR / CommandoRoyal Marines
Sit-ups60stricter50
Push-ups40same40same
Shuttle run (beep test), level.shuttleRoyal Marines: Multi-stage fitness test (bleep), level10.111stricter
Over-grasp heaves (pull-ups)Royal Marines: Pull-ups (overhand)6stricter5

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

SASR / Commando sets the higher minimum in: sit-ups and heaves.

Royal Marines sets the higher minimum in: bleep.

Same minimum: push-ups.

SASR / Commando tests 4 events, Royal Marines tests 4 events.

Pay

SASR / COMMANDO
A$167,009 / yearWhat an Australian SF operator earns · Lance Corporal · pay grade 8 (Foundation) · incr. 0 · default scenario, gross
ROYAL MARINES
£27,282 / yearWhat a Royal Marine earns · OR2 · Marine / Private · OR2-01 · default scenario, gross

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

Questions

Is SASR / Commando or Royal Marines harder to get into?

SASR / Commando sets the higher minimum in: sit-ups and heaves. Royal Marines sets the higher minimum in: bleep. 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 SASR / Commando and Royal Marines fitness tests differ?

SASR / Commando: 4 events (sit-ups, push-ups, beep test, heaves). Royal Marines: 4 events (bleep, pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups).

Does SASR / Commando or Royal Marines pay more?

SASR / Commando: A$167,009/year; Royal Marines: £27,282/year (default scenarios, gross). The amounts are in different currencies and depend on taxes and cost of living, so we do not rank them.

Sources:
SASR / Commando
Royal Marines