Posted on Oct 16, 2016
How would you react to an E2 who "smart mouths" you in formation?
1.85M
16.7K
5.38K
1.5K
1.5K
0
Here's the background. You're a senior E5. Your troops are in formation and you're handing out work for the day. You hand out an assignment to a fresh E2 with less than a year in and only a few months at your command. They blatantly complain and tell you to choose someone else. You calmly tell them they will do this task and they tell you to shove it and give it to someone else. How do you react?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3697
Well I'd probably laugh at them and make them feel really small and order them to do it anyway!
(0)
(0)
well I am not in the military.but I do think that when you are in the military there are rules inplace that help you and that you are there to learn that can and will save you and your men.so yes he needed help to see why he should to as told.
(0)
(0)
I had this happen to me plenty of times. I was an E6 and had NO support form my command. I decided to stay the course and take the high road. After the senior command moved on/ retired I was the one in command. I did such fun things as write counselling statements and confiscated cell phones. I had to make all of the subordinates to Unlearn everything and get them on the right course. As I retired I left behind a great maintenance section who as a group excelled. I say nip it in the bud. If it's an ongoing thing, talk to the private to find out what's going on but remind him that he is a soldier first.
(0)
(0)
Give everyone else in the platoon extra Duty, explain to them that they got the extra to Duty because off this man's insubordination. As the others complete their assignments have the dissenter stand in a place of prominence and watch them all. At the end of the day have them all report to the barracks and lock the door behind them. By next morning he should understand how things work.
(0)
(0)
In today's military, it is important to cover your butt. Witnesses to any form of correction due to insubordination is a must. Too often the benefit of the doubt is extended to the subordinate complainant and not extended to the NCO or Commanding Officer who are charged not just with unit cohesion but with the lives and well being of those who would file the complaint.
That being said, there could be an underlying cause to a sub-ordinates reticence to follow the lawful directives of an NCO or the lawful orders of an Officer.
Care should be taken to provide a witness to any further interaction with the sub-ordinate. Dismiss all but E2 and his squad leader. Question the sub-ordinate as to the reason he/she is unable to comply with a lawful directive of an NCO or the lawful orders of an officer. If there are not sufficient extenuating circumstances, then the E2 should be informed that not complying with the Directive or Order given will result in actions being taken against the E2 according to the UCMJ which will begin with MP's being called to assist in the detention of the offending E2. If there are extenuating circumstances that would justify an inability of the E2 to effectively comply with the Directive or Order, then it is important for the E2 to understand that proper respect must be shown and demonstrated at all times to the Chain of Command. Suggest to the E2 a response that would have demonstrated this respect, but have allowed the NCO or the Officer to directly address the concerns of the E2 without delay.
This of course is assuming that this is not happening in a combat situation. The immediate life and death nature of a combat situation will probably make all of this irrelevant to the immediate needs of the unit. Many factors could play into the E2's unwillingness or inability to comply. These factors may include but are not limited to combat fatigue, fear, intense shock and confusion, overwhelming grief from the loss of a unit member, anger at the failure of Command to sufficiently assess potential threats, etc. The immediacy of combat makes this situation much more difficult to easily address. Proper training helps to insure that this situation does not occur in combat through the confidence gained by instinctual application of that training. Encouraging the E2 by expressing that they have been trained specifically to deal with combat situations, by stressing the needs of the unit as a whole and that lives depend on their ability to carry out Directives and Orders, and by the E5 expressing his/her personal confidence in the E2's ability to perform the given task successfully will probably produce better results than threatening the E2 who may in turn become more entrenched in their position to not comply with orders which not only results in a breakdown of discipline but of unit cohesion and combat effectiveness.
It is important for the E5 to remember that the United States of America has invested much time, effort, resources, and tax dollars in developing this E2 for service in our Armed Forces, and that motivating E2 to perform effectively their assigned task protects the investment in this individual that the entire nation has contributed to.
That being said, there could be an underlying cause to a sub-ordinates reticence to follow the lawful directives of an NCO or the lawful orders of an Officer.
Care should be taken to provide a witness to any further interaction with the sub-ordinate. Dismiss all but E2 and his squad leader. Question the sub-ordinate as to the reason he/she is unable to comply with a lawful directive of an NCO or the lawful orders of an officer. If there are not sufficient extenuating circumstances, then the E2 should be informed that not complying with the Directive or Order given will result in actions being taken against the E2 according to the UCMJ which will begin with MP's being called to assist in the detention of the offending E2. If there are extenuating circumstances that would justify an inability of the E2 to effectively comply with the Directive or Order, then it is important for the E2 to understand that proper respect must be shown and demonstrated at all times to the Chain of Command. Suggest to the E2 a response that would have demonstrated this respect, but have allowed the NCO or the Officer to directly address the concerns of the E2 without delay.
This of course is assuming that this is not happening in a combat situation. The immediate life and death nature of a combat situation will probably make all of this irrelevant to the immediate needs of the unit. Many factors could play into the E2's unwillingness or inability to comply. These factors may include but are not limited to combat fatigue, fear, intense shock and confusion, overwhelming grief from the loss of a unit member, anger at the failure of Command to sufficiently assess potential threats, etc. The immediacy of combat makes this situation much more difficult to easily address. Proper training helps to insure that this situation does not occur in combat through the confidence gained by instinctual application of that training. Encouraging the E2 by expressing that they have been trained specifically to deal with combat situations, by stressing the needs of the unit as a whole and that lives depend on their ability to carry out Directives and Orders, and by the E5 expressing his/her personal confidence in the E2's ability to perform the given task successfully will probably produce better results than threatening the E2 who may in turn become more entrenched in their position to not comply with orders which not only results in a breakdown of discipline but of unit cohesion and combat effectiveness.
It is important for the E5 to remember that the United States of America has invested much time, effort, resources, and tax dollars in developing this E2 for service in our Armed Forces, and that motivating E2 to perform effectively their assigned task protects the investment in this individual that the entire nation has contributed to.
(0)
(0)
Dog his ass, if still not compliant, counseling, not compliant still, move to article 15.
(0)
(0)
Pvt Dumass needs the training we got in basic training back in the 1960 then he knew what an order was today sounds like baby sitting job j
(0)
(0)
The military is a separate life from civilian life, when I was growing up and I told my dad no I picked my ass up off the floor. I learned real quick that what he says is gospel and not to be questioned, and for the most part it only took once, I was young and dumb, my dad taught me the civilian way of life, as did my drill instructors i.e. (military dads), (teachers), you learn to take orders and if it requires a little pain to learn it so be it. Discipline and respect is the name of the game, physical exercise with a little pushing and shuffling alone the way never hurt anybody. Was talking with a young Marine 90's grad. comparing stories of boot camp from 72' what a difference. OORAH
(0)
(0)
Firmly remind the airhead, he works for me, he has been given his assignment by me! Then, write him up for being disrespectful to his NCO!
(0)
(0)
The UCMJ is very clear on this: not following a lawful order is punishable by courts martial. Lawful orders, if refused is nothing more than insubordination.
(0)
(0)
Article 15 I believe will cover it isn't that disrespect towards a senior NCO.
(0)
(0)
Slap them upside the head or tell them choke yourself with my hand like FMJ
(0)
(0)
Dougie Whiteside
You have to be able to exert your command so the rest of your squad knows you mean business and your the boss
(0)
(0)
Read This Next