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

Squash him like a bug and PT till he pukes. Questioning with discretion is one thing, in formation. Very wrong answer.

not much you can do in todays military. in the old days i would kick his ass to send a message to the other troops! i am in charge and you maggots are gonna do what i tell you to do when i tell you do it it-or else!!

I actually had a situation similar to this happen. I had assigned a group of students to clean up our radar huts. I went and checked their work and it was substandard. I then went to the class room gathered the students up and we headed for the radar huts so that I could supervise them. A LCPL decided to tell the others how those God D@#m SSGT's think they own the Blank Blanking world. He did so in my hearing. Once he peeled himself off the wall we continued to the radar huts where they spent the rest of teh day cleaning, and cleaning and cleaning.

I would probably tell him to report to the First Sgt. and tell him that. Has Ha

Lock him up, put him at ease...initiate immediate Counseling Statement for his file at very least. Depending on the severity of his tone...submit request for Article 15 recommending reduction to E1, to include a fully written explanation to the Chain Of Command.

Tell he to report to 1st Sgt for Article 15.

I assume in modern times, it's probably no longer ok to punish everyone and ask the platoon to "help" him obey orders.
(By the way, what are those yellow straps they are wearing in the picture?)

Granted I am only up to Spc-4. However, if given a chance, I will make him stand fast after formation and explain himself. Smoking him outright will make it worse. However, if he is still insubordinate towards you, you gave him a chance and he blew it, then you can smoke the living hell out of him until he learns to respect. At the end of the day, at least you can say you gave him a chance to explain on why he's being insubordinate towards you.

Being in a unit (or formation) is like a well-oiled machine. Everyone has to do their part. If there is a problem, then that problem needs to be investigated so a possible solution can be made (within regulation). I've been told to disseminate to my subordinates (yes, I had a few privates that my SGT gave me to look after) any info/tasks needed to be done by the chain of command that I never had a problem in doing so. Leadership is all about keeping your cool, but being firm.

Wall to wall counseling.

Tell E2 and his first line supe to stand fast after formation. Allow him to speak his mind, and then discipline accordingly.

On the spot correction is mandatory if you are going to maintain good discipline. If this individual is a problem child then its time for him to seek employment elsewhere. Lives may have to depend on this individual doing his job.

I am afraid I am from the old Army and would have physically put his ignorant as on the ground made him get in the front leaning rest position and dogged the shit out of him after I was done with the rest of the formation. Yes back to basic for him at the post confinement facility, what did we used to call that place, leaving him there for at least two weeks. Yes the Army used to have a place e to take care of the dirt bags any years ago......

Platoon, Attention. Half - right face. Front leaning rest position, move. In cadence, exercise...until the platoon can't do any more (muscle failure). Then, butterfly kicks until they can't do any more. Bring the platoon to Attention and give the assignment again. Repeat as needed.

It would be handled in a short and to the point session of wall to wall counseling. There is no place for such insubordination in the military. It is not a "job" you need to follow the orders of those above you.

Fall the rest of unit out, E2 standfast, report to my office or quarters. I'd explain my leadership type briefly, throat punch after he got his breath back I'd inform him he will have that detail and all dirty, all physical details assigned to platooon till I'm tired. Any questions will be taken up in front of 1Sgt or Battalion CSMG.

It's a different world in a different Corps. As an E-4 Corporal I had an E-3 LCPL disobey a lawful order and back talk me with biligerence. I grabbed him by the throat and pushed him against the wall until I had his undivided attention. I was saved an office hours because he was stupid enough to to tell the First Sergeant that he indeed was biligerent to me. He received a right up and restriction to barracks instead of me losing my stripe.

Stupid is what stupid does.

B C D

I’d walk up to him, then kick him in the groin...no, not that, I’d take out
my service weapon and shoot’em...no, not that either...I’d walk up to
him, put my arm around him and commence telling him that he really
misunderstood what I thought I said and tell him in a very cordial manner
how mistaken I was in suggesting that he would even be considered to do
manual labor being such a nice boy and walk him back into the barracks
and tell him to take the rest of the day off and not to strain himself.
Well you believe that and I’ve got some ocean front property in Az. I’d
like to sell you...ha! In reality, I’d continue with proper duty assignments,
dismiss the platoon except for HIM and once the platoon formation was cleared,
I’d have a heart to heart talk with HIM out behind the barracks. I for one am not
really PC oriented.

Any of you who say giving that troop an art15 with less than a year in, especially if this was a first offense kind of thing, are wrong. I so wish the military was like it used to be, give this pvt a significant emotional experience in the motor pool, or where ever. I promise he will learn from that and steer clear from doing it agai, all the while saving tons of fucking bull shit paper work, and not putting a black spot on this kids career for a moment of stupidity.