Can you bench a B-52?

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Senior Airman Bell Fitness Center staff recently introduced a challenge that brings the colossal size of the B-52 Stratofortess from the flightline into the weight room.

Bench a B-52 is an incentive program to encourage and motivate Team Barksdale to reach new fitness goals. The goal is to bench press 185,000 pounds: the weight of an unoccupied B-52.

"This program creates competition among our participants to see who completes the program first, has the best scores or lifts the most weight," said Staff Sgt. Kelsi Farinella, 2nd Force Support Squadron fitness program manager.

Less than a month after the program's introduction, Airman 1st Class Dillon Vakoff, 96th Bomb Squadron aviation resource manager set the bar for the competition. 

"A1C Vakoff is very passionate about fitness," said Farinella. "When he heard about this program, he was determined to be the first to complete the program and he did exactly that."

He completed the challenge within three workouts by bench pressing 1,000 repetitions of 185 pounds.

"What helped me complete the program fast was having a technique," said Vakoff. "I did a combination of regular flat bench, incline and decline."

Vakoff encourages others to complete the program and offers advice.

"Eat, rest and sleep properly," he explained. "Set out a plan to avoid injury, set your mind to accomplish it and don't give up."

Upon completing the challenge, participants will receive a B-52 shirt, officially become members of the B-52 Club and have their picture posted on the B-52 Club wall.

"Anyone who's interested in getting involved with this program can visit the front desk at the fitness center and pick up a weight tracker sheet," said Farinella. "This will start the clock for them to achieve the goal of bench pressing the weight of a B-52."

Participants have until Sept. 30, 2016, to complete the program. The FSS has rolled out additional incentive programs for different types of fitness such as the Barksdale Miles Club and soon will be introducing Max out Mondays.

For more information on the incentive programs the fitness center offers, contact the Senior Airman Bryan Bell Fitness Center at 456-2494.