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

A good ass-whuppin'.

Eat him.

Your E2 is fresh out of basic, and in today's military, it is all volunteer, so he is not a conscript. You turn your squad or detail over to the highest ranking element and inform him that he/she is now in charge for a few minutes, and then you take your intransigent E2 aside and out of ear range of the detail you just left, and you inform him/her that he/she is in an autocracy and not a democracy and there is no discussion. You have the detail unless there is something that is physically limiting that would prevent it. If he/she does not have an excuse from a doctor, then he/she either obays a lawful order, or finds himself/herself on report for an article 15 non-judicial punishment. You may need to seek council either from your officer platoon leader or the JAG. Those that tend to be intransigent generally find themselves as civilians with administrative or general discharges. These types of discharges do make it difficult to find a job in the civilian world since it will be annotated on your DD214 copy 4.

Throat punch !! Ok..Article 15..Dishonorabley Discharged !! Snowflake !!

Well this is a good on. I said it before the army never issued me a friend I never ordered are even requested one. This young man would have been in deep (put what you want) I don't give a hoot ( clean version) what is going on he would start by pushing the Earth inside out. Then the counseling statement. Then the job we was told to do with direct supervision. Then a counseling statement on the job done. The next formation an apology for disrespectful attitude towards the platoon.

Calmly Tell this soldier to stand fast after formation. Always 'Seek first to understand", know why this Soldier is reacting this way and if it is something that can be fix on the spot then correct his malfunction and have him continue with his marching orders, if it is more than that then report issue and findings to platoon sergeant and stand by for his guidance.

LTJG (Join to see) I'm old school infantry. Disobedience or resistance to a lawful order can be deadly. If that were to happen, it would not happen again. Let's leave it at that.

Wow, so many creative recourses spring to mind on this one... First though... is he, REALLY, being singled out for task assignments? If so, why?

Seems to be a possibility that E2 could be going to his head, maybe he needs more time at the lowest rank.

Does he have a combat MOS? That would expand your options to more physical means of recourse. In a firefight you would knock that BS out of his head, might as well get him used to it now.

I was an E4 Sgt, in the 50's if in formation or any other company matter like that I would make sure that E2 was an E1 at the next formation, he disrespected his senior and flatly refused an order. That my friend cost him a stripe, and by refusing an order could get him brig time.

Had only one young lad this way......wouldn't/couldn't do any mtc. task assigned. As his behavior was influencing a couple of other personnel, I pulled him off the crew and turned him over to the LPO. LPO failed to convince him of the era of his ways.
Chief got involved.......put him on shop, hangar, ramp clean up, with two extra hours into the next shift, for a week, he was screwing around with this menial task.
Chief, then had him escorted to the Brig to spend the day as an observer of there activities. Chief/Div. Officer, then had a consoling session with him.
His choice Capts. Mast/Brig, or go to work....... He came back on the crew as a productive young E-3.
Which now leads to another question.
Attempt to correct behavior in today's modern Navy, or just discharge them for failure to preform?

Soldier, private or airman (as applicable) you have enlisted in the military. We are not a kindergarten. This is your responsibility, you will do the assigned task or be written up for insubordination. Choose wisely

Well since wall to wall counseling is out these days.You have many courses of action you can take as a leader. You obviously have to make an example out of this individual so others do not follow and challenge your knowledge and authority. It has to be clear not only to the individual but to everyone else (notice I said individual because this person is not a team player) this type of behavior is unacceptable. If you have been around long enough you have many tools in your kit bag to address these types of issues. Creative corrective training is always a first step but if that fails and some times it does you can always rely on your knowledge of the UCMJ. In the end as a leader must ensure the task or mission at hand will be completed one way or another. It does not have to be completed by that individual but it has to be completed or else your failing as a leader.

I would hit him with Article 5 for disobeying an order

There's a whole host of punitive articles to can use for this one. Step 1: Inform your chief of the situation and start a paper trail. Step 2: Be on him every moment he's in uniform. Step 3: fry him out of the Navy. There's no need for any kind of belligerence no matter how subtle or blatant.

Hugs and bacon! Hugs and bacon make everything better.

right that minute he is going to get pulled out .. of formation .. and because this is the "new Army" he will not get the ass whupping he needs.. he will get it other wise .. and every shitty detail for the next month, Make it clear to every one else you can not do this shit . some one said something about being on profile.. then let that private tell the sgt after wards .. or respectful say Sgt. may I say something .. a good sgt will know if they are on profile . no matter what this shit will get you killed in combat. this be nice shit is what is wrong with a lot of young people... "oh I do not want to do that " sorry but some case need a kick in the ass .. since it can not be like it use to be it has to be verbal. and if they respond back with any thing but yes sir.. AR15 time

Man! I would have wrote his add up asap!! then foward it to My next senior enlisted Navy would be E-6 1st class or Chief Petty Officer E-7

Back in my day, he'd get a blistering ass chewing he wouldn't forget in front of his contemporaries, then made to drop and give me 50 and put on some shit detail for a week.

Destroy them.

I had this happen to me, what i did was to smile, and tell the young Fireman Apprentice that it was ok he did not have to do that job I had something special for him to do and that he was to standfast after quarters was finished for his assignment. That's when i would take the young man to a private area and verbally convince him why he needed to do as he was told-when he was told-and how he was told while never losing my cool. If that did not work, i turned him over to his fellow e-3 and belows and give them instructions that by the end of the work day, if he had not changed his attitude that none of them would be going on liberty until he had. You would be amazed how fast that young sailor would correct his self.