Purpose <p>Cognitive-motor dual-task (CMDT) is essential in military operations, yet it remains unknown whether soldiers cope with fatigue, important perceived exertion and cognitive degradation differently from fitness-matched civilians. This study compared sustained attention, neuromuscular fatigue and perceived effort during an incremental cycling and cognitive test (ICCT) in soldiers versus fitness-matched civilians.</p> Methods <p>Thirty-two trained participants (13 soldiers) performed the ICCT, consisting of 3-min CMDT stages with increasing cycling power (starting at 1 W∙kg⁻¹, + 0.4 W∙kg⁻¹/stage) until task-failure. Sustained attention was assessed with the Mackworth task. Neuromuscular fatigue was measured via isometric knee-extensor maximal voluntary contraction (IMVC) and femoral nerve stimulation (peak twitch, Pt; voluntary activation, VA). Cycling and mental effort were rated using 100-points Borg scale.</p> Results <p>Cycling power and heart rate at task-failure were comparable between groups (all P ≥ 0.13). Mackworth performance was similarly impaired at task-failure (P = 0.47). IMVC and VA declines throughout the ICCT were comparable between groups (P ≥ 0.25), but Pt decreased more in soldiers (-53 ± 15%) than in civilians (-33 ± 12%; P &lt; 0.001). Soldiers also reported lower cycling (-6 ± 3 a.u.; P = 0.020) and mental (-13 ± 5 a.u.; P = 0.003) effort.</p> Conclusion <p>Overall, military position did not confer an advantage in dual-task performance or resistance to central motor command impairments, but was associated with a reduced perception of effort despite greater peripheral fatigue under an exhaustive situation.</p>