Posted on Oct 16, 2016
LTJG Ansi Officer
1.85M
16.7K
5.38K
1.5K
1.5K
0
08a24fcb
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?
Avatar feed
Responses: 3697
Votes
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Votes
SSG Geoffry Addison
0
0
0
GySGt Pepper, Hits it on the head. I ran in to this when we were in garrison. It seems that soldiers think that being in garrison means 9- 5 duty hours. Which is true most days, but somedays last longer then others. The thing I add to Gunnies actions, was to have PFC Shitbird and his team leader stay after the rest of the soldiers left for extra duty. I would stay with them until the job was done followed by re-eteration on what is expected.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Jason Mast
0
0
0
Hesitation cost lives on the front line or while, like me, you're behind enemy lines more often than not, so insubordination is not tolerated nor acceptable. The Airborne is no place for pussies or vigilante insubordinate shitbirds with authority issues. We all have a job to do. Remember after you sign your life away to Uncle Sam, you are Government property. Your life is not your own anymore. Disobeying direct orders is still punishable by death. Your NCO doesn't have to smoke your ass. The military is no place for individuals. It's a well oiled machine built on self sacrifice and teamwork.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Sgt Carlos Barrera
0
0
0
That is a no brainer, that is disrespect towards a NCO, what will you do?? charge him and send his merry butt to office hours or court martial. Discipline in the military has to be observed at all times
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Drew Clark
0
0
0
Half Right Face!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Jordan Brown
0
0
0
Disrespect to a noncommissioned officer. Too easy. Talk to Private Shitbag and if he continues to be insubordinate, Article 15 his ass.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC C Bell
0
0
0
Give him an article 15 for disrespectingredients an NCO. You can either do a FG, CG or summarized.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CWO3 Bryan Luciani
0
0
0
This is a great question and a situation very few are trained to handle on the drop of a dime. I had this same issue as a young E5 with little leadership experience. I handled it wrong the first time as I let my shock and anger take over. I blasted the E3 right there. My advice is never let your emotions take over, nor the fact that you can't believe this person would be so insubordinate in front of the troops. Gunny Pepper is spot on. Dismiss the troops and look into "the situation" with a focus on whether this E2/E3 has a future in your division/Navy. To me, my mission/my ship always came first. Either you're a reliable part of the team or you are not, and the ability of each Sailor/Marine to carry out orders without question, is paramount. A second item I learned was that you can not save every Sailor/Marine whom you come across that has a lousy attitude. While I saved a few, I also I canned a few bad ones in my career with very positive results.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Sgt Jason Edwards
0
0
0
I would assign the task to another individual, find some scut work for the problematic E-2 to do while I prepare his LOR. During our counseling session, I would inform them that this isn't burger king and you don't get to have it your way! Every low detail that needs to be done, they get!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CPL John Castillo
0
0
0
Continue delegating task ask individual to stand by after dismissal. Corrective action. Simple. Talk calmly to the boot as you smoje them to come ro a common ground and they will execute as planned . The End
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
MSgt Eric Maticic (Ret)
0
0
0
Hate to take an opposing stance but maybe the task was stupid. I never had this problem even as a Corporal. The worst SgtMaj I have ever seen was big on "Busy Work" to the point of painting the curbs of the HQ building with a sandstorm coming in. He told them to press on even though the sand would ruin the paint and any progress made. It is easy to come down and say the only solution is for that E2 to un**** himself but we have all seen poor leaders that rightfully should be questioned.

One of my favorite tactics was to catch those young bucks rolling their eyes ever so slightly and bring them to the front and tell their peers how they feel and why, they usually feel embarrassed and want to return to the pack as quickly as possible. A different perspective can do wonders. Leadership by attrition has a time and place but not to mentor and develop.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.