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

Now, who knows, I retired in 1988. That said I went by the rule of praise in public and criticize in private. But if this person mouthed off at quarters, USN name for formation, I would address him "I'll discuss it after quarters so belay that (stop that in Navy speak) now. I private this person would be given a brief chance to explain what the problem was and then it would be a one way, my way, conversation from then on. Minimum finger in the face ... MMCS(SW)(SS) USN Ret.

smoke session

In my days in,there were certain things you didn't do. You followed protocol and that was that. Seems this E2 thought he knew more than the E5, looking for favoritism can land you in a whole lot of trouble. Possibly a letter of reprimand or extra kp duty was sufficient for most.

I would of slapped the shot out of him!

These are the guys that ask why in combat and get people killed, UCMJ immediately.

smoke the squad make sure they know pvt shithead is the reason do it every day until his peers soove the problem

Land on him with both feet. You CANNOT allow him to blatantly disrespect your authority that way, or the whole unit will start to unravel.

Yes and if they still Refuse then have them stay and start with a Documented Counseling Statement and explain to them on why they are here and that they have a responsibility to do there assigned tasks and unless it a clear safety issue that's its not a negotiable matter

I recall what one of my JROTC Instructors once said “to lead you must motivate, and for that you must communicate. Know the mission, weigh your options. For at the end the option you take is yours, the decision you make is yours, and whether you succeed or fail the consequences are yours. I spent almost 38 yrs in the service and I retired a SGM.

I now work security at a local high school. And have taken those words and adjusted them so they can be applied to kids. You can ask almost any student or teacher of Gabe’s Options Rule, which is: “You have a choice of 2 ; Option 1: Do as I’ve asked/directed and we’ll be fine, and earn respect; Option 2: Do not take Opt 1, you will be written up and referred to your Dean. Either way the Option choice is yours, the decision is yours and the consequences for your decision will be yours and yours alone.” 95% of the time they choose Opt 1.

I always segregate the problem student before giving them the Option, it shows them that you have some respect for them and are willing to work with them. After that if they persist, well it’s time for that “Coming to meet Jesus” meeting.

Totally unacceptable behavior. the E2 must be disciplined at a level that will make sure he understands his position relative to his supervisors, and pays a price that makes a strong impression on him/her, but not so strongly (yet) that he is drummed out of the service.

Push ups some extra duty.

Take him and his team leader aside, and find out what his major malfunction is. If it’s just a bad attitude, address the behavior immediately in increasingly greater discomfort levels until compliance is given. Having his team leader drill him for increasing periods of time is acceptable (and legal! One purpose of drill and ceremony is to insure prompt obedience to orders)
Give the person every opportunity to comply, but don’t hesitate to cut sling after you’ve tried everything! Keep your chain of command involved!

I'm old school that will not be tolerated. Call him/her front and center. Have them explain there major malfunction. After chewing said pvt. up and spitting them out for insubordination. Then smoke said pvt. followed by article 15 hit them in there pocket so they will remember how to follow a lawful order.

I know what my Drill Sergeant would have done! He would have taken me into a private office with about four other Drill Sergeant. Then he would ask me again if I want to disrespect him again! I know times have changed but this is why our country has changed. We’re sparring the rod and look at the results. Disrespectful youth that have no respect for authority or mankind. The world is going to hell because man are afraid to stand up for God’s Laws!

I've been out of the Army for many years, but my approach would be progressive discipline an Article 15 to start off and a close watch and some extra duty

This one is easy. Pull them aside and give them extra duty.

How about half right face? Front leaning rest position move until his arms are shaking. Then give him the order again

I am a PFC and this happens more often than not. I was prior service Active and then came to the National Guard. I had a hard time with the transition but mainly because the lack of discipline. I don't believe in talking back to NCO's because if I did in Active I'd get smoked til the walls sweat, outside. I'm not in anyway saying you are like this, but it seems to me, NCO's are losing their backbone. It's okay to lose your temper and set shit straight. Especially to a stinking PV2. I know that the Army has changed a lot the past few years, but when did higher ups scared to get their ass chewed or second guess what was right for the soilder? You're the leader for a reason and if you let him get away with it with something like a counseling... It won't be long until the next guy does it.

Having been both the snot-nosed E2 that smarted off and the NCOIC being smarted off to, I have to say I agree with the prevailing sentiment. Praise in public, Punish in private. I smarted off to an E6 (not part of my tank crew, but part of my platoon) about my living quarters. I received some wall to wall correction, and after having been to the medics (E6 rammed me into the corner of a wall locker throwing my lower back out) we took a trip to the First Shirt's office.
Top gave me some remedial training and "explained" how things would be from here on out. I was sent packing and do not know if anything happened to the E6. Later that same E6 and I became close, but in 86, when the balloon could go up at anytime, you quickly learned your lesson and did not hold grudges with your comrades in arms.
Later when I was in a National Guard unit as a forward observer and tasked as our unit's NBC NCO. We had a detail preforming maintenance on our M8 Chemical Detectors and our masks and had a private try to instruct me that he was NOT going to clean anything but his personal mask and work on zero M8's. After explaining concisely and politely that he would perform the lawful order I had given him, we took a trip to the First Sergeant's office. I put him on the carpet and explained everything again to him. When he started to speak, Top explained I was correct and if he expected to remain in the unit, he would learn to follow order or he would find himself launched like a copperhead.

During my last few years, my E4 mafia would not give me a chance to nip it myself. In fact a PV2 with just the appearance of disrespect would have several PFCs and SPCs in his grill immediately.
I was a big fan of the verbal shaming of a smart mouth newbie. "You don't get an opinion until your G I Bill is paid off."
"I can't hear you until the word sergeant is used."
"Watch someone do it in the front leaning rest."

Treat your soldiers firm and fair and you will see the same results of the E3 E4 mafia crushing the bad attitudes on the spot.