Sheppard Strength Fuels Air Force Powerlifting Championship

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Daniel Turner
  • 82d Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  

The Air Force Powerlifting Team won their second consecutive National Championship at the USA Powerlifting Military, Police, & Firefighter's Nationals in Newnan, GA on March 15, 2025, marking their third title in four years.

The performance of two Team Sheppard members, Senior Master Sgt. Select Daniel Turner (372nd Training Squadron) and Staff Sgt. Mario Silviera (365th Training Squadron), fueled the team’s victory against 67 of the nation’s top competitors. Silveira, totaling an impressive 1,642 lbs. across the squat, bench press, and deadlift (595 lbs., 397 lbs., & 650 lbs. respectively), earned third place in the highly competitive 110kg weight class, which boasted 17 lifters.  Turner, solely focused on the deadlift, successfully pulled 595 lbs. and 628 lbs. before narrowly missing his final attempt at 661 lbs. (300 kg).

Turner, a Certified Personal Trainer and Athletic Coach, currently coaches a team of ten powerlifters around the world. His dedication to the sport extends to Sheppard Air Force Base, where he organizes the “Scary Strong” and “May Day Push/Pull” competitions, both fostering a culture of powerlifting excellence. "I'm incredibly proud to be part of Team Sheppard," shared Turner. "This event is a testament to the dedication of our athletes every year. Since I arrived, I've been committed to growing the sport here, and watching them succeed on a national stage is truly inspiring."

In October 2024, Silveira won the “Scary Strong” competition, placing 1st out of 27 lifters with a record-breaking 452 DOTS score (an algorithm-based grading scale that ensures fair comparison between lifters). His victory earned him the Top 3 Sponsorship covering his USAPL membership, singlet, local competition entry, and national championship registration, paving his way to the National stage. For the past three years, Turner has secured the sponsorship for competition winners, paving the way for athletes like Silveira to compete at the national level.

Silveira, balancing a full-time job, followed a demanding four-day conjugate strength program. His discipline to wake at 0300 and train from 0400-0600, lead to a 110 lb. total increase across his three lifts in just 17 weeks! "I am grateful to be part of Team Sheppard and represent the 365th Training Squadron. I have been weight training for almost 10 years but never had the opportunity to compete due to unpredictable TDYs and deployments. Finally, being able to compete and fulfill a long-time dream was everything I could have hoped for. Now that I have the bug, I plan to keep competing, growing the sport, and striving to be better.”

The next opportunity for Team Sheppard to showcase their strength is the "Miami Vice" Push/Pull competition, scheduled for May 31st.  Those interested in participating or learning more are encouraged to contact Sgt. Turner or Sgt Silveira.