How would you react to an E2 who "smart mouths" you in formation?

This is an interesting question, and probably has about 100 correct answers,depending on the respondents.
Not that I a picking on our brethren in Air Force Blues, but I would think that an E5 in the Corps, would handle it just a little differently than the AF. I was an HT1, and I guess you could say a little old school, and was probably able to discipline a little different when I was in as opposed to now. But either way, or any branch, when an E5 is issuing orders, you do as he or she says, you say "Yes Sir/Maam, and you go on about your day.
This is what i truly loved about the military,they did not have to put up with all off this touchy feelty kind of crap, you just did what your were told, and if you did not like it, then after you completed what you were told, you went to the next up in your chain of command and voiced your concerns there..
Just my two cents.

make him an E1 to start with

Write him up

Article 15 for sure. There used to be a unit called CCF (?) correctional confinement facility I believe. Or something like that. Used to be able to send idiots to that for a couple weeks or so and they usually came back with a different attitude. Now I don't know what you can do but Art 15 them with reduction and eventually confinement.

At my first command, as a junior E-4, I was the LPO for 1st LT division. Whenever a new person checked into the Division, my LT would tell them straight up, any order I issued, they were to take it coming directly from him and they would be up on charges for disobeying a lawful order from an O-3, not an E-4. So, I never had a problem. But, I knew if I screwed up, My LT would hammer me also. Support from my chain of command was the biggest reason why no one questioned me. That was in the late 80's early 90's.

Their next assignment would be a relatively short discussion in my office followed by weeks of less desirable assignments. After that period was completed. I will have made an evaluation of their progress including keeping an ear to the ground about any bitching. I would of course hope that more senior members of his squad would have been kind enough to mentor the dumbshit. I'm sure I might have gotten opinions offered up and taken in from the more senior PO's reccomendations regarding the individuals future viability would certainly be added to their record if progress was unsatisfactory.. If they took instruction and improved their attitude my evaluation would be likewise tempered or simply given a satisfactory rating. Young soldiers especially in specialties which allow for quick promotion are still basically untested and yet to be properly indoctrinated in day to day military life. I will not take action to shit on them long term if improvement is acceptable to me.
People might wonder how someone who never made it past PO3 might make such assertions.. I have made 54 trips around the sun and learned professionalism and discipline in my own field.. At the end of the day it amounts to the same thing. My job is both dangerous and requires great responsibility.. I run 145,000 lb 93' long at up to 75mph on state and interstate highways 135,000 miles a year. I better keep my act together because Im in control of a 70 ton bomb..I am fully accountable to myself, God and everyone whose life I might affect every day.. Anything beyond that is just a good time working in an office with a view and a good paycheck.

simple write up and then a general court matrial but Im from the old school Army where respect was taught and no pampering was done

Remember the scene in "Full Metal Jacket" with the troop marching behind the formation with his pants down and thumb in mouth? Happened twice to the same mouthy EM in my basic training company in 1967, except the Drill Sargent didn't make him drop his drawers. Results? None. He thought it was funny. Spent most of his time on KP, he thought that was funny too.

Make an example of him. civilians may allow that behavior, but that E2 is in the military now. In the heat of battle a machine gunner goes down and to tell the E2 to get on the machine gun the response will be get someone else.

If you find yourself arguing with an E-2 you need remedial leadership training. You are molding character, the clay is in your hands. Discipline must be swift, decisive and carry the message that you are not paid to argue with pvts. Make an example but not a spectacle. If you are able to, try to consider the indiv. and teach him a lesson without ruining his career, you may have a good soldier who just needs to get guidence. But you need to have control of your people
Best of luck

That is too blatant. Do a charge sheet

A public challenge like that, I would lose my freaking mind on him. That would be the only choice possible. I would eventually run out of air, and have to assign his squad leader to supervise him doing some horrible task for the rest of the day. I might get creative here and have him push a 5 ton to the wash rack or something

Private chat, first. If there is no reason given for his unwillingness to do his job, or the attitude doesn't change, write him up. Shipmates who saw what happened will know the result.

Oh they would keep the assignment. Place them at parade rest(YOU CANT TALK FROM THE POSITION OF PARADE REST), Dismiss the unit after I finished the daily plan distributions, call them to attention march their butt over to where ever our area is. Ask them about any problems, concerns or questions to see if they had anything bothering them, personally, family, financial or militarily, if yes to any of these questions then we would work through until we found a solution. If the answer is no problems with any of those areas, then I would supervise them doing the task previously assigned. If they refused then it's time to see the old man, if they were just mouthing off, He would have EMI Extra Military Instruction until Moses parted the Red Seas again, (Or until I see a change in for the better in their attitude). I never rejoiced in writing up a Sailor for some minor infraction that could be corrected by understanding and some military instruction, but sometimes the chips have to fall where they may and damn the torpedos! Because like someone said earlier a trip to the Captain or XO for that matter could lead into very career damaging waters , i.e., rank/time/money/career loss, which may be unnecessary and could possibly be diverted with a proper understanding of the individual and or their problem/s.

After we got back from the hospital where they surgically removed my lower extremity from his rectal region, he would be mopping up rain on the tarmac until I told him to stop. Then we would have the cleanest and most well kept latrines on the installation after he cleaned them with a toothbrush. Unfortunately, nowadays you can't dole out punishment like that or you will get in trouble. I was late to roll call one time...one time only. My Chief took me down the hall by the ear and kicked me into his office, dressed me up and down about the meaning of punctuality, then literally kicked my rectal region out of his office. Nowadays, I would give paperwork after keeping them behind after the formation left and insist to the commander and shirt to take a stripe for insubordination.

Pass revoke action time. Counsel in private, strip a few privileges as allowed by your CoC, and add something in for corrective counseling from 5 PM to 11:45 PM with formations every 15 minutes for said Mouth piece. Take pass privileges away for a couple of weeks, and see if he wants to open his trap again.

"How would you react to an E2 who "smart mouths" you in formation?"
How would I while in formation? Not at all. The privet WANTS a reaction in front of his peers. I'm not giving him that
Then later, we would have a discussion.
That said,,, I think the Soldiers KNOW, or think they do anyway, which leaders can be pushed that way and will bend. And which will not.
In 28 years I had only two SM that pushed that way..
The story of one is here someplace......readers mostly agreed with my actions of dealing with the situation and one found a way to be outraged..and butt hurt as if it had been him that physically attacked and was put on the ground.

The other was a new privet in Basic, that was not mentally all there.. After the guidon staff was pried from his hands, and he was restrained further... there was no SM in that company who thought it was a good idea and likely to be successful at telling the DS .".F off, Im not moving, you cant make me, No man can give me an order, only God can do that, and your not god"

Have the Soldier and a couple of witnesses stand by after the formation. Have the witnesses provide a sworn statement to the event. Write up a Article 15 recommendation counseling and let the system do what it does. AFTER the recommendation is in the process, give the Soldier an opportunity to "explain himself or herself" and let the way in which he or she takes the correction to the approach dictate your recommendation to the commander for appropriate punishment.

He would be decorating rocks during police calls, front/side planks, pull-ups, extra instruction in mcmap, advanced instruction in field days(Chinese field days), scuz brush the deck, mopp suit drills, fire watch, gear watch, reciting definition of discipline, filling sand bags, sledge hammering rocks, wall sits, listening to hagee music for R/R cultural competency training

ive read the responses about summarized ar15 here. had an old army e7 ask me about how I was going to handle a pfc who was disrespectful and insubordinate. I said summarized ar15. he said not no but hell no, if your going to take him to see the old man your taking him there for 3 things: his rank, his money, his time. otherwise handle it yourself. as for this shit bag, I would be taking him to see the old man for his rank, his money and his time. you can guarantee that would be the last time any private or specialist would be disrespectful in formation or in front of his buddies