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

Mopp level 4.. running back and fourth from the barracks from level 1 to 4.. bet E2 won’t say anything after that.

You have not given us enough information to give a true answer:

Have you given this soldier this item to do, exclusively, for months and maybe they are just tired of that specific job, and would like to do a different one for a change of pace?

IS he brand new to the army? Or is he an E-2, because he just fucked up and the boss dropped a grade or two?

What was the job? and what was his MOS?

Has he recently had something happen like divorce, death int he family, etc and is maybe acting out because he doesn't know how to handle that emotion?

I would have his immediate supervisor stay and discuss your expectations and have his supervisor watch his private do the work. If there is a behavior modification program, have the supervisor escort him there for extra training. Now another corrective action is reduction of rank. and back it up with an Art 15.

We had a recurrent problem with one guy... I'll call him "mouth". PV2 Mouth showed up and made dumbass comments to SPC Oldtimer. SPC Oldtimer attempted to redress the situation by telling PV2 Mouth he was fucked up. SSG Hobotheclown didn't like SPC Oldtimer. He didn't back up SPC Oldtimer. PV2 Mouth did whatever he fuckin wanted. SPC Oldtimer lost face. Later SPC Oldtimer is a gun team leader. He needs to get his team trained on the M240L, do room inspections on his 3 subordinates PFC Nerd PFC Bigcountry and PVT Newdick, and assossiates team leader tasks - getting people places on time with the right stuff etc. Now PFC Mouth has made rank +1. He is a bad influence on PVT Newguy. PVT Newguy shows up late to work, gets smoked. SSG Hobotheclown thinks SPC Oldtimer shouldn't be a team leader and constantly undermines him whenever catching PFC newdick running his mouth instead of working. PVT Newdick blows off whatever SPC Oldtimer says because he knows SSG Hobotheclown never backs him up. PVT Newdick does drugs because he thinks the Army is bullshit. PFC Nerd hates his life because he has to do the shit details that now ranked up SPC Mouth is shamming, so he transfers to Battalion Scout Platoon. SSG Hobotheclown gets out and does steroids and bangs hookers until his dick falls off. SPC Oldtimer and PFC Bigcountry are stuck with all the work. PFC Bigcountry decides not to re-up because he doesn't want to do all the shit details. SPC Oldtimer, sick of the fucking motor-pool, drops a Green-to-Gold packet because he realizes he's wasting his fucking time. Now SPCNerd goes for a deployment, gets jacked, becomes a CPL team leader. He wonders if he should stay in; he still needs to do BLC. He is outranked by time-in-grade SGT Mouth, who is still a piece of shit.

True story.
This is today's Army. DISCIPLINE THE SMART ASS KIDS. PT THEM UNTIL THEY CRY.

We had a recurrent problem with one guy... I'll call him "mouth". PV2 Mouth showed up and made dumbass comments to SPC Oldtimer. SPC Oldtimer attempted to redress the situation by telling PV2 Mouth he was fucked up. SSG Hobotheclown didn't like SPC Oldtimer. He didn't back up SPC Oldtimer. PV2 Mouth lost face. Later SPC Oldtimer is a team leader. He needs to get his team trained on the M240L, do room inspections on his 3 subordinates PFC Nerd PFC Bigcountry and PVT Newdick. PFC Mouth has made rank +1. He is a bad influence on PVT Newguy. PVT Newguy shows up late to work, gets smoked. SSG Hobotheclown thinks SPC Oldtimer shouldn't be a team leader and constantly undermines him whenever catching PFC newdick running his mouth instead of working. PVT Newdick blows off whatever SPC Oldtimer says because he knows SSG Hobotheclown never backs him up. PVT Newdick does drugs because he realizes the Army is bullshit. PFC Nerd hates his life because he has to do the shit details that now ranked up SPC Mouth is shamming, so he transfers to Battalion Scout Platoon. SSG Hobotheclown gets out and does steroids and bangs hookers until his dick falls off. SPC Oldtimer and PFC Bigcountry are stuck with all the work. PFC Bigcountry decides not to re-up because he doesn't want to do all the shit details. SPC Oldtimer, sick of the fucking motor-pool, drops a Green-to-Gold packet because he realizes he's wasting his fucking time. Now SPCNerd goes for a deployment, gets jacked, becomes a CPL team leader. He wonders if he should stay in; he still needs to do BLC. He is outranked by time-in-grade SGT Mouth, who is still a piece of shit.

True story.

not the right answer, but back in my day, some body was getting their ass beat in my office no witnesses.

As a 1SG, this happened to me....believe me- I’m the type who would normally go pretty ballistic on open disrespect. I’d embarrass him the way he just tried to embarrass me.

However, in this particular morning, I was having an outstanding day. Really. I was in an excellent mood and things were going well. I’m going over the detail roster and when I tell PVT X that he had mowing duty, he replied, “why don’t you do it?”

I smiled, laughed a little and I said, “SSG Y, let me know when private X has completed all latrines, hallways, trash receptacles and all mowing- front and back. Let me know your recommendation for ART 15- extra duty-demotion- or both in the counseling. If you need additional supervision for him while you write the counseling- pull from his team as you see fit. Everyone else will meet me at the gym at 9 for a dodgeball tournament. Any questions? Outstanding. Fallout.”

I will echo most of the commenters here: Immediate action is needed! This Private (or Airman or Seaman, etc) and the rest of his bretheren know exactly their place or they would've never had passed bootcamp. They are fully aware of, not only how to follow orders, but to seek help from the Chaplain when their emotional health is in need of some relief.

The first thing I recommend is to dismiss his/her entire Platoon and keep his squad leader or your 2d in command and mop the floor with him/her. Discipline instills morale and good order.

Fall out to the side, and I'll get to you in a few minutes. Take them to see the 1SG, and get this straight in a quick hurry. Counsel, RBI, restriction and probably extra duty that weekend.

Push ups in front of formation, barracks duty

I am thankful that I am retired. Ask my Soldiers back in the day how "BuckShot" would have responded. I once had a Soldier who would not clean his room. I had him take everything out of his room to include the furniture and set it up outside just like it was set up in the room. That is where he lived for the next 48 hours. After proper guidence he turned out to be one hell of a Soldier. We served three tours of Iraq together. You can't discipline Soldiers like that in today's army.

Make them drop and give me 20 pushups. My 1SG in Germany did that to an E6 because the E6 had refused to remove his headgear as ask by myself, an E3 sitting on the CQ desk answering the phone during the day.

Write all of them up on an Article 15 and let the CO duck walk their sorry asses for a month!

Advise the rest of the platoon this behavior doesn't stand and will be handled after formation. After formation, call PV2 Shitbird and his team leader in the back. Tell him whatever attitude he has ends today. Tell his team leader to take care of the situation and advise the TL if he fails to do so and it happens again, not only will the private suffer but his whole team will suffer with him. They will square him away pretty quick.

As a Senior NCO, I lived by the rule of praising in public, disciplining in private except in one situation, when my authority was challenged by a subordinate. In this situation, you must engage the individual directly, without hesitation and in a stern and candid manner that ensures no other subordinate will try you. My response: PVT, Army Command Policy states, "All persons in the military service are required to strictly obey and promptly execute the legal orders of their lawful
seniors." and if they don't they are subject UCMJ Article 92: Failure to Obey Order or Regulation. As your senior, this is my lawful order. You will execute that order or I will take your insubordination to the next level. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!

The assignment has been made. When the assignment is scheduled and the balking E-2 does not appear, then he or she has abandoned post and is subject to the UCMJ in the strongest sense. The mere fact that the E-2 has suddenly disappeared from the unit for one or two weeks on restricted duty while the matter can be settled by internal mediation in the favor of the command and all those who thought or believed he or she got away with it. The fact that the E-2 suddenly reappears with a whole new perspective on military courtesy with full pay and allowances restored does send a strong message to all who may or may have heard rumors of the exchange. The key is not to make an issue out of it at the time. This also sends a silent message to the command that when assignments have been made, there will be no changes or exceptions. "Nuff said. . . .

I had this happen to me in Basic Training. The Flight Leader (E3 ,AF) told us to fall in, I was moving fast as I got beside the FL he screamed right in my right in my ear. I called him a Brainy AHole I received an Article 15 for my action. He got away with his stupidity. To this day the hearing in my left ear is very limited even with hearing aids.

Get down and give me 50. And then come back with the right answer

I was only a Cpl. E-4 U.S.M.C 1960-'64. I would have brought him up for Office Hours! That kind of behavior was NOT tolerated when I was in!

I kind of did this when I was still wet behind the ears. My first day in the division on my first ship the Chief asked who had the working party the day before and then proceeded to call out the names for those that days working party which included me. I thought that was a good process. Next day at quarters the CPO again was making working party assignments and the last name he called was mine. I raised my hand and said I had been on the w/p the day before. The Chief said 'you don't like working parties? See me after quarters'. I went to him after being dismissed and he told me to report to the mess decks master at arms for a 3 month tour mess cooking (kp duty). I did learn my lesson.
When I became a leading petty officer I remembered that lesson (I had never repeated that mistake) and when confronted with the same attitude I admit to having rode guys pretty hard till they conformed. I had an E3 that was a very 'intimidating' guy who kept our head clean. I admit to sending 'problem children' to work in the head which always seemed to have good results. That was the 70's however and today I suspect we both would be in the brig but it worked.