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

that's why the army is in the shape it is today. the hell with explaining to him what he did wrong, he learned common military respect in basic. he wants the glory of looking big and bad in formation, you handle it right then and there, you squash it and make an example out of him for his buddies

Evidently the young dumb ass has lost his frickin mind and needs help remembering why his head is separating his ears. JR would be beating his face till his buddies are tired and then his team leader would have some fun time with him on the PT field doing some Grass Drill, and just so you all don't think I'm devoting all my time to disciplining this young trooper by himself, his whole platoon can join in the fun. Later that evening they can all sit around the day room and swap stories after they beat him like a red headed stepchild.

I actually had this happen to me as an E6 Team Chief. I had a 6 man team at a small radar station reconfiguring an entire GATR site. We were behind and I decided that the entire team (including me) would return to the site and work until 2300. Two of my team (an E5 and an E3) informed me that they had worked enough for the day and were going fishing. I have them a direct order to report to the site at 1900 and assumed they would show up. Neither of them had ever given me any problems. When they didn't show, I was livid, to say the least. We worked until 2300 and I went to bed.

At 0600 the next morning, my phone rang. It was the Base Commander asking me if I was aware that the vehicle assigned to me was found outside my quarters st 0330, unsecured, windows all opened, and with 18 empty beer cans in the gov't vehicle. Obviously, I was not, and I mad that clear. The Base Commander, a Mustang Captain, said that he didn't think I was, and he told me to resolve the situation. Thank God he was a good guy.

I called the individuals into my room and we had a "come to Jesus meeting". I sent them to the motor pool to detail the vehicle and then report to me at the work site when they were done. Then I called my Chief to inform him that I was sending the two individuals home and I asked if he could send me two replacements. He had no one available and told me that he would support any decision I made. I knew that we could not finish the job on time if I was two people down.

When my errant airmen returned, we had another meeting, where I explained to them, in no uncertain terms,how much trouble they were in. They could both be court martialed for any of several offenses that would land them both in Leavenworth. I think this made an impression on them, because when I told them that if they caused even one more problem, I would turn them over to the security police for action. I think the Base Commander liked my solution, because he told me that's what he would have done, since the mission came first. They were model troops for the remainder of our TDY and we completed the project on time, with no exceptions.

When we returned to home station, I had a long discussion with my Chief about what kind of discipline they should receive. The E5 had just been promoted days prior to the TDY and Chief decided not to give him an Art15, instead, the Sargeant was restricted to Base for a year, which meant he could not go on any more TDYs (we all looked forward to TDY,s). The E3 received an Art15 and became an E2. I know. I would have done just the opposite, but that's how the Chief decided to handle it. If you have ever been in the Air Force, you know the Chief's Rules:
1. The Chief is always right.
2. Refer to Rule 1.