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

I would ask him to repeat what he said. If he said it again I would dismiss everyone else except him and his team leader. I would then pull them aside and explain the options.

1. The Pvt can do his assigned job plus extra duty with no further complaints, or;

2. Be brought before the CO and recieve an Art. 15 for failure to obey a lawful order.

That kind of willful and public insubordination cannot be tolerated and must be dealt with immediately.

Give him the shittiest detail everyday for a month.

Put him on his face and smoke him.

*Left, Right, CCF"

Have him arrested.

I would give him a couple of options and none of them are positive.

Interesting choice of picture for this discussion. I don't think there is much chance this recruit is back-talking this DI.

Wall to wall counseling

whatever job he was complaining about, and refusing to do would now become his permanent assignment.

Make a example out of him. This is the military and a lawful order. I once made a group of e-1 & e-3 detail the smoke pit.( they where smokers ) after they return from liberty over an hour late . They had a choice I said they change into there poopy suites and clean at 0100 with flashlights or I call the CDO and we do article 92 and article 15. They choose to clean till 0600. They never return late again

If he's insubordanent with you thru ignuurance you explain in a fair but firm voice what his correct behavior should be, if he is duing on purpose and you know he knows better, you either chew his ass out or instruct his leader to square him away.

Maybe the problem is that your an e5 and not a sergeant.

A little bitching is acceptable, when Joe told the Sqd Leader to "shove it" he crossed that line that should never be crossed without a mountain of manure coming down. As a young Spec5 (look it up), I was responsible for soldiers with more time in service but less technical qualification. I got some "why me" guff from time to time and allowed a little of it but it was always understood that you'd still wind up doing whatever it was that I'd told you to do - until "that guy" showed up.

I got a newbie in who was a rehab transfer. I was warned that he was "an issue" and a brawler He questioned everything - constantly. He would usually eventually get moving and half ass his way through the task but never without lip. After about three days of his shit I'd had enough and courteously invited him down to the "mop well". He smiled and obligingly agreed to attend me because he was bigger and stronger than I was (and had done quite well in the boxing smokers allowed in the good old days). What he didn't know was that I had prepared the battlefield prior to the invitation. When he got tot the bottom of the steps the second and third squad leaders grabbed him securely and I laid down the law. He smarted off about needing help so having already made sure I had sufficient backup just in case things went south I told him to take his best shot - he got one good swing in before I laid him out (I boxed a little then as well and had watched him fight - I knew he'd lead with a haymaker that exposed his ribs badly). I told him in a fair fight he could probably take me but he'd never get into a fair fight with me - I had military authority and a couple of good friends who'd help out if military authority wasn't enough.

Over the next hour of ass chewing/psycho analysis/mentoring I learned that he stood to inherit a bunch of money in about 13 months (his 25th birthday) and that he was just in the Army "until he got his money". I calmly explained that he could do it easy or hard - his choice. I put all of it in writing (except the sucker punch in the gut I gave him when he over swung). Any time he'd start to revert or appear to be slipping I'd make a point of talking about boxing. He turned out to be a good Soldier and when he ETS'd he thanked me for taking the time to "help him out".

Immediate corrective action should be taken.

I'm assuming two things: 1) This is a first time transgression; 2) This man has some potential value to me or my squad and could be rehabilitated.

Send him to the Hooch to await my arrival. Send everyone else on to their tasks. Find my surpervising Staff NCO and tell him what's going on, and what I intend to do and have him stand by in case I fail. Head to the hooch. Explain to the young man his transgression(s) (there were at least two). Explain that this is the last time it will happen...ever. Give him a choice of doing a new, more arduous task, in addition to the task originally assigned, or being written up. If he fails to accept your offer, bring in the Staff NCO, outline the charges, write the paper, send him on to the First Sergeant/Sergeant Major.

The final step is to address the rest of your squad and let them know what has transpired. They need to know that this behavior isn't tolerated

Well if that would have happened to me that kid would be eating dirt for days. I would also Article 15 his ass then send him back home to mommy. I know I have been out for some time now but insubordination and disrespecting an NCO is still against the UCMJ. He would definitely feel the pain.

Use the tools a supervisor is given and put it to him if he wants to show what a ass he is. there is also the legal system. First ask what the young man's real problem is. You might be able to correct his behavior at the lowest level possible.

Honestly, I don't care what the PV2 is going through he better maintain his military bearing. He can explain in the front leaning rest. Then after he knows his dang place and I allow him he can explain his disagreement.

FM 22-102

My next in command would be given my task and the private and myself would be leaving the formation and going to the Gunnery Sgt or the Chief of Smoke. Formal counseling and punishment would be given out. There is no room for disobeying a lawful order. If that did not resolve the privates problem, we had CCF that could break the toughest of stupid soldiers. Not a place you want to be.