Robert “Cujo” Teschner founded VMax Group to guide small and mid-size businesses on a flight plan to success through leadership development and team-building programs based on the foundational principles of Top Gun schools. The VMax Group team includes former Fighter Weapons School Instructors along with other elite US Air Force and Navy fighter pilot instructors.
Comparatively, the U.S. Navy’s “Top Gun” program, officially known as the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, was created in 1969 following air combat performance issues during the Vietnam War. While Top Gun has become widely known, especially through popular culture, the USAF Weapons School is regarded as the more elite institution due to its broader scope and more rigorous training regimen.
The USAF Weapons School offers an extensive curriculum that extends well beyond fighter tactics. Its training encompasses bombers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, space, and cyber operations, ensuring graduates are well-rounded experts in various modern disciplines. This comprehensive approach instills expert leadership skills and provides a proven framework for driving high performance in teams. The school’s emphasis on detailed debriefing and after-action reviews fosters a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
Graduates of the USAF Weapons School possess a unique blend of leadership, accountability, and tactical expertise that is unparalleled. Their rigorous training in high-stakes environments ensures they excel in fostering high-performance teams. The principles they master—meticulous performance evaluations, continuous improvement, and strategic adaptability—are directly transferable to the corporate world.
These principles, when applied to the corporate world, enable businesses to build cohesive, resilient teams capable of navigating complex challenges and driving sustained success. By adopting these methodologies, corporations can enhance operational effectiveness through strategic planning, clear communication, and personal responsibility.
The focus on clear communication, personal responsibility, and strategic planning enables businesses to build cohesive, resilient teams capable of navigating complex challenges and driving sustained success. Leveraging the elite training and insights of Weapons School graduates, organizations can cultivate a culture of excellence, mirroring the high standards and performance of the U.S. Air Force’s finest leaders. This transformation leads to improved decision-making, increased innovation, and a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Robert “Cujo” Teschner is a retired F-15 / F-22 fighter pilot. He is also a former F-15 Weapons School Instructor, F-22 Squadron Commander, senior Joint Staff officer, and combat veteran. He holds advanced degrees in Operational Art and Science and National Security Strategy and has extensive experience in tactical planning and execution and organizational leadership. From 2004 to 2006, he served as the US Air Force’s expert in post-mission debriefing, the methodology used by high-performing military teams to self-correct and improve continuously.
Cujo retired immediately after pinning-on full Colonel due to complications from cancer-related care and started an international business consulting practice based in St. Louis, MO. His company is called VMax Group. VMax Group’s mission is to teach, inspire and nurture teams on how to really “team”, making work more fulfilling and making teams much more effective.
Luke “PSYCH” Layman is a decorated fighter pilot, serial entrepreneur, investor, and executive coach. He is the host of the top-rated Shift Work Podcast and author of the Best Seller “Building Resilience: How To Move Past Fear Into Real Toughness as a Team.” He has founded and led multiple 7 and 8 figure businesses, as well as leading the highest performing organizations in the United States Air Force. Amongst his many accolades, he is the recipient of a Combat Action Medal and Single Mission Air Medal for combat operations flown in the A-10 Warthog. Mr. Layman is the recipient of multiple business awards and is a three-time winner of the INC 5000 award for the fastest growing privately held businesses in America. PSYCH is a widely regarded expert in the applications of brain science, high performance, and business strategy.
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