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
SFC Cavalry Scout
0
0
0
I would have to take a moment to calm myself.......... Then its time for some corrective training or memory builders....... flutter kicks, front back go, mule kicks. I wouldn't go over board, but when I'm done that soldier would have a light coat of sweat on him!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SP5 Gary Gerow
0
0
0
He'd be doing about 50 push ups with me sitting on his back!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CPT Daniel Glorsky
0
0
0
Crush it immediately in public. Then UCMJ. CO grade ART 15. If it persists, you can always escalate to FG or chapter
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Luke Loschiavo
0
0
0
Smack the Shit right out of him!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Michael Claudio
0
0
0
I would like to think that a disciplinary measure akin to getting the spit slapped out of your mouth like my mother used to do 8f I got smart with her......which was not often at all. But I can remember that smack to this day and that smack had its desired effect....I listened and did as I was told for the greater good of the household.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
0
0
0
Being in the National Guard, I would have no issue saying "Go to supply and get MOPP gear" and smoke the crap out of them, or as my old squad leader would say, "If you don't want to be here, there's the door." I know the last one is argumentative as a leader, telling a soldier to just leave, but honestly we don't need that type of insubordination in our military. Just my two cents though.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
1SG Dee Ernst
0
0
0
Install more fear & smoke his ass!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Don Maggart
0
0
0
Is he in Formation or a dark Hallway??? Or am I demonstrating a Chokehold or a Throatpunch...??? laffs MilitantCrip
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO2 Phillip Scott
0
0
0
Had a Seaman up for 3rd class tell me as a 2nd Class that he was going to sleep and not turn to, asked if he understood that he was being given a lawful order by a senior PO, he said yes and turned over to go to sleep. I wrote him up and we got underway the next day, I did the work he was suppose to do . Two days later he was called before the Chief and told he had Captains Mast that afternoon for disobeying a lawful order. He was reduced in Rank, lost 3 months pay and was on shipboard confinement for 3months. No one in my Division ever again disobeyed an order from any PO after that. This was in 1974. He was upset that I wrote him up but I explained that it was my responsiblilty to have our equipment up and ready to be underway and I could be given a mast for not being sure that we could get underway and I was not going to lose my hard earned rank because he wanted to sleep after noon chow.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PFC Derek Ivey
0
0
0
Pull his tongue out and shuv it up his ass. Full blown disrespect to you higher command should be dealt with straight forward discipline (corporal punishment).
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT George Harrison Jr.
0
0
0
I would try to find out what's going on and it's just flat out being defiant then an example would be make of what not to do. Art 15 extra duty and money taken sho7ld correct it, if not then a chapter with PFC Snuff going home on a bus.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
1SG Rick Davis
0
0
0
I would put him in the prone position for 50 push ups. Upon completion he would stand facing the formation and explain why he thinks he is superior to each of his fellow soldiers why he was so special and shouldn't share in the assigned duties. They would help to adjust his attitude over time.

AIRBORNE
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO3 William Fusick
0
0
0
I don't understand the new soldiers today and how they think they have the balls to act like that. I remember in 1966 aboard the aircraft carrier Bonnie Dick and being a E3 in radar with a really racist E5 from South Carolina making me scrub the inside of the stainless steel toilets by hand every day. I would have never thought of not doing what he ordered even though I could not stand him. I knew one day I would be above him in rank and would show him compassion inspite of his ways.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CPL Brian Clouser
0
0
0
Edited >1 y ago
In the good old days it would be wall to wall counseling Today military its drop and give me 50 and write him up and assign him extra duty If he keep refusing,, then an Article 15 will solve the private problem. Nobody like to lose money and being confined to the quarters doing extra duty
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO1 Personnel Specialist
0
0
0
Just because the military is 'kinder and gentler' these days, it does not mean that subordinates can disobey a lawful order. As a supervisor, you should first explain that E2, as a serviceman, he must obey a lawful order. And if he does not, there is a consequence. Period. You must write him up if he does not take you seriously. If you are thinking that he is a good kid, who was having a bad day or needing mentor, then get to know him better and guide him. But clear discipline must be the first action. If you do not handle this disobedience right away, your subordinates, even the good ones, will never take you seriously.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Maj Mike Sciales
0
0
0
Edited >1 y ago
First, make certain you understand the troop's comment by saying:
"I'm sorry, I think I misheard you, because telling me to 'shove it' will involve you getting a Letter of Reprimand and a career counseling session with the First Sergeant to see about lining you up with an "early return to parents discharge" and no GI bill for college because there are tons of recruits happy to replace you. So can you repeat yourself please?" Nobody wants to lose their benefits.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO1 Hospital Corpsman
0
0
0
That should raise a red flag; it could be nothing just a bad day or there could be a underlying issue. You have to find out who, what, where and why that response was given. There could be a cause/effect. Yes, his insubordinate action should be dealt with and appropriate corrective action is needed (that goes without saying) but at the same time counseling maybe and probably is needed.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Lynn Santosuosso
0
0
0
Edited >1 y ago
That is blatantly disobeying an order given by a higher ranking individual and they are disobeying the 2nd General Order, "I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner". Time to recalibrate or weed out the troublemakers. It's very simple, if they don't obey your orders for regular duties now, then what will happen when they get in a fire fight and they put their unit at risk by disobeying orders or not being prepared. If you don't want to be a soldier and follow orders? Get out of my Army!! A few Article 15's should help!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Infantryman
0
0
0
Make him carry around a tree because his waste of oxygen will atleast go to some good use.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Sgt Michael Cortes
0
0
0
I had a situation that was very close to this.

As the ranking platoon NCO in the barracks, an e-4, I was in charge of the morning police of our area of responsibility. Maybe trash pickup on one side of the barracks and cleanup of the first floor common room. I'm too damn old to remember the specifics.

One day, a young PFC decided he needed to check his balls, and got belligerent. He took the position that he didn't have to do what I was directing. Being a competent Marine NCO, I barked out "move it" to the other Marines and turned my attention to this PFC.

In the oh so gentle manner proscribed by Marine Corps tradition, I advanced on this young Marine and aggressively reiterated my orders and explained why "resistance is futile".

Needing to pull up his jock strap and prove he deserved to be wearing it, he adamantly resisted any obedience and dug in his heals further. He looked like a puppy trying to show the world that he deserved to be a big dog.

To be painfully honest for a moment, I don't know why I recognized, in that moment, that he needed to resist the harder I pushed. In my old age, I came to realize that it was like being between a rock and a hard place. He just couldn't let himself back up and I was certainly not going to allow him to continue being an example of defying the Platoon NCO without any consequences. However, as NCOs we teach Marines so they make better choices next time. Consequences either put someone down for good, or are a lesson to learn from.

In that moment, I decided to dismiss the Marine. Not like, "You're forgiven. Go relax in your room."

"Ok Marine. You don't have to do that job. You know what, You don't have to do any job. Get the f*** out of my face and out of my sight. You will return right here at 1800 tonight or I will have your ass. Go!" ........ "No you can't do what I asked you earlier. I said get the f*** out of here."

Apparently he had the entire work day, (he didn't report to me other than in the barracks) to consider the wisdom of testing himself. Later that evening he got to enjoy the full policing of the entire area of responsibility without the assistance of the rest of the platoon, all the while displaying proper respect to an NCO. As every barracks Marine could see him out there doing their thing on this own, he even had to field a few questions. I heard him once explain, "I f***ed up."

I don't think that would have been the wisest choice for every Marine. I still think it was the wisest choice at that time with that Marine.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

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

How are you connected to the military?
  • Active Duty
  • Active Reserve / National Guard
  • Pre-Commission
  • Veteran / Retired
  • Civilian Supporter