Military service teaches lessons that extend well beyond the armed forces. For Chad Kneller, a U.S. Army veteran who owns a USA Ninja Challenge franchise in The Woodlands, Texas, leadership, accountability and perseverance influence everything from hiring coaches to helping children overcome obstacles.
USA Ninja Challenge is a youth fitness franchise that uses obstacle-based training to help children develop strength, coordination and confidence. The business provides an opportunity to apply the leadership principles Kneller developed in the military while helping children build skills they can use throughout their lives.
"The military reinforced for me that trust is built through character, preparation and consistently doing what you say you will do," Kneller said. "You need confidence that the person next to you can do the job and will speak up when something is wrong."
Kneller takes a hands-on role in building his team at USA Ninja Challenge, drawing on the leadership skills he developed in the Army. He understands that coaches have a responsibility not only to teach children but also to create an environment where parents feel confident leaving their kids.
"When hiring, I look for dependable people who are coachable, care about children and take responsibility," he said. “Athletic ability matters, but parents are trusting us with their kids. Character and judgment have to come first.”
His military background also influences how he trains employees and delegates responsibilities. Kneller makes sure coaches understand their assignments, what success looks like and when they should ask for help. As employees demonstrate their abilities, he gives them more independence while remaining accountable for the team's performance.
"The biggest lesson military service added to my leadership is that success cannot depend on me personally handling everything," Kneller said. "It depends on developing people I can trust and being a leader they can trust in return. My philosophy is simple: set the bar, hit the bar, raise the bar."
One of Kneller's most memorable experiences in the Army came when he was assigned to help 25 soldiers who were failing their Army Physical Fitness Test or performing below expectations. As a staff sergeant, his responsibility was to improve their performance and get everyone passing. However, he wanted the soldiers to recognize that their current abilities didn't determine what they could eventually accomplish.
"We set individual goals and worked toward them over 90 days," Kneller said. “By the end, every soldier had exceeded his personal goal, and 20% earned perfect scores. What stayed with me was the value of combining a clear standard with personal encouragement and a plan for improvement.”
Kneller applies those same principles when coaching children at USA Ninja Challenge. Rather than viewing an unsuccessful attempt as a failure, he sees it as an opportunity to identify what needs improvement.
"When a child falls off an obstacle, that attempt gives us information: Do we need to adjust their technique, build strength or break the challenge into smaller steps?" he said. "The goal is to help them understand what happened and approach the next attempt with purpose."
Kneller's military experience also prepared him for franchising, where owners follow an established business model while managing employees and making decisions within their local operations.
"My military experience prepared me to value a proven system while understanding that leaders still have to exercise judgment," Kneller said. “You have standards, procedures and a mission, but you also have to develop your people and respond to the situation in front of you.”
As a USA Ninja Challenge franchisee, Kneller benefits from an established curriculum and operating model. Rather than developing every aspect of the business himself, he can concentrate on supporting his coaches, building relationships with families and delivering a quality experience. He also appreciates opportunities to contribute ideas and make improvements within his operation, provided those changes serve a clear purpose.
"I enjoy developing ideas, but an idea should solve a real problem and support the mission," he said. "Military service taught me that disciplined execution and initiative can work together."
Owning a USA Ninja Challenge franchise allows Kneller to continue developing people after military service. Although the environment is different, many of the principles that guided him in the Army remain central to his business.
He wants his coaches to become dependable leaders and his students to understand that progress requires effort and persistence. By combining the structure of a franchise system with his military experience, Kneller is building a business that reflects the values of trust, accountability and helping others succeed.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge.
USA Ninja Challenge
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Chad Kneller, a USA Ninja Challenge franchise owner in Texas, explains how his Army experience influences the way he hires coaches, works with children and runs his business.
Military service teaches lessons that extend well beyond the armed forces. For Chad Kneller, a U.S. Army veteran who owns a USA Ninja Challenge franchise in The Woodlands, Texas, leadership, accountability and perseverance influence everything from hiring coaches to helping children overcome obstacles.
USA Ninja Challenge is a youth fitness franchise that uses obstacle-based training to help children develop strength, coordination and confidence. The business provides an opportunity to apply the leadership principles Kneller developed in the military while helping children build skills they can use throughout their lives.
"The military reinforced for me that trust is built through character, preparation and consistently doing what you say you will do," Kneller said. "You need confidence that the person next to you can do the job and will speak up when something is wrong."
Kneller takes a hands-on role in building his team at USA Ninja Challenge, drawing on the leadership skills he developed in the Army. He understands that coaches have a responsibility not only to teach children but also to create an environment where parents feel confident leaving their kids.
"When hiring, I look for dependable people who are coachable, care about children and take responsibility," he said. “Athletic ability matters, but parents are trusting us with their kids. Character and judgment have to come first.”
His military background also influences how he trains employees and delegates responsibilities. Kneller makes sure coaches understand their assignments, what success looks like and when they should ask for help. As employees demonstrate their abilities, he gives them more independence while remaining accountable for the team's performance.
"The biggest lesson military service added to my leadership is that success cannot depend on me personally handling everything," Kneller said. "It depends on developing people I can trust and being a leader they can trust in return. My philosophy is simple: set the bar, hit the bar, raise the bar."
One of Kneller's most memorable experiences in the Army came when he was assigned to help 25 soldiers who were failing their Army Physical Fitness Test or performing below expectations. As a staff sergeant, his responsibility was to improve their performance and get everyone passing. However, he wanted the soldiers to recognize that their current abilities didn't determine what they could eventually accomplish.
"We set individual goals and worked toward them over 90 days," Kneller said. “By the end, every soldier had exceeded his personal goal, and 20% earned perfect scores. What stayed with me was the value of combining a clear standard with personal encouragement and a plan for improvement.”
Kneller applies those same principles when coaching children at USA Ninja Challenge. Rather than viewing an unsuccessful attempt as a failure, he sees it as an opportunity to identify what needs improvement.
"When a child falls off an obstacle, that attempt gives us information: Do we need to adjust their technique, build strength or break the challenge into smaller steps?" he said. "The goal is to help them understand what happened and approach the next attempt with purpose."
Kneller's military experience also prepared him for franchising, where owners follow an established business model while managing employees and making decisions within their local operations.
"My military experience prepared me to value a proven system while understanding that leaders still have to exercise judgment," Kneller said. “You have standards, procedures and a mission, but you also have to develop your people and respond to the situation in front of you.”
As a USA Ninja Challenge franchisee, Kneller benefits from an established curriculum and operating model. Rather than developing every aspect of the business himself, he can concentrate on supporting his coaches, building relationships with families and delivering a quality experience. He also appreciates opportunities to contribute ideas and make improvements within his operation, provided those changes serve a clear purpose.
"I enjoy developing ideas, but an idea should solve a real problem and support the mission," he said. "Military service taught me that disciplined execution and initiative can work together."
Owning a USA Ninja Challenge franchise allows Kneller to continue developing people after military service. Although the environment is different, many of the principles that guided him in the Army remain central to his business.
He wants his coaches to become dependable leaders and his students to understand that progress requires effort and persistence. By combining the structure of a franchise system with his military experience, Kneller is building a business that reflects the values of trust, accountability and helping others succeed.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge.
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