Posted on Oct 16, 2016
LTJG Ansi Officer
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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?
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MSgt Ncoic Bioenvironmental
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Today's military? or 35 years ago when I first entered ? The answer definitely would not be the same.
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SGT Gary Tob
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In my day, in the Vietnam era: drop and give me 50. Then article 15 with a few weeks of KP duty
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SFC Derek Peterson
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If the infraction was in public, address it in public.
Immediately issue commands:
Group-attention, half-left face, front leaning rest position move.
Now that I have your attention,...
Explain chain of command, leadership positions, how every one of them will be in your position in the future, then go into explaining insubordination.
After 10-20 four count push ups, inform pvt shithead that he will stand fast once everyone is dismissed, everyone can personally thank him for the additional physical training later at their convenience.
Once assignments are identified and the unit is dismissed, immediately go full on drill sgt about lack of respect and insubordination loud enough for others to hear. Direct pvt shithead to stand at parade rest in front of the 1SGs office, double-time, and wait for you.
Consult with 1SG behind closed-door, while shithead waits, to discuss options of counseling statement or AR15.
You need to take immediate action and send clear message to entire unit that such behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Been there, done that, positive results.
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SSgt Ron Breier
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In formation?!!! Maximum punishment you can deal out.....don't want any of his Buddies to think they can do it and escape consequences!
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Sgt Dennis Krizan
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Had it happen from an E3. He kept saying bs & intentionally getting out of step, saying this is all bs. I gave 2 warnings to him while marching, then halted the formation, left faced everyone, told him in a very calm manner if he keeps any of this up, I'll see he loses whatever rank possible & is fined the max allowed for every violation I could come up with, directly impacting his wallet & I have around 40 other witnesses standing next to him. He was not a problem after that. I forget where we were going but it was a bit of a long march. It was at NCO training/school, so I just now wonder if it was a test, this was 40 some years ago.
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PV2 Joseph Myers
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I think that today’s soldiers lack an understanding of how badly insubordination can go, I have seen a number of posts that would illustrate how the situation would be handled in my day. I even got to witness how my NCO’s dealt with it, it was not very pretty.
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SSG Ivan Centola
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DROP!!!! Start pushing the ground. I then turn to the section leader and have him drop alongside the PV2. After 2 minutes I tell the section leader to get up while PV2 Dipshit is still pushing as I enquire why a PV2 is being so out of line. I give the option to the first-line supervisor to handle disciplinary actions (delegation of authority) and inform him/her that I want a complete briefing on corrective actions applied. If the attitude continues the actions will become much more severe with even the possibility of Article 15 and separation.
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SSgt Daniel d'Errico
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Really, back to this subject again? If you have a smart mouth in your squad, platoon, company, etc. Just give him/her a blanket party or the worse details for them to complete by themselves. Extra strenuous PT would also be in order. But people, please get on with another subject.
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LTC Laborer
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Edited 5 y ago
I would simply note, old thread that this is, that it isn't an officer issue. I used to go to Cp Pelham in the ROK every time one of my drunk-ass troops was policed up by the MPs in the local ville. The theory was (and it proved out) that if the Troop Commander showed up personally to get the lad in the middle of the night, the MPs might lighten up on the blotter entry. I ALWAYS took the 1SG (who relished even less than I did jeeping over to Cp Pelham from our Cp Garry Owen. After we got out of the gate of Pelham, Top Daly kicked the drunk-ass troop out of the jeep and we slowly wended our way back to Cp Garry Owen with the troop trailing behind, stopping occasionally to "clear his system of the dog that bit him." When we were sure he was emptied our, we piled him back into the jeep and picked up the pace. When we finally got back to our Cp, I'd ask Top ... anything you need me to do on this one? Invariably, the answer was "no sir, I've got it." On the [rare] occasion that I asked what he did, he told me "sir, I made him an integral part of my wall locker." That method of administering justice probably wouldn't float in these days of "safe space" and "feel good" ... but it sure saved a lot of troops from getting an adverse mark on their records ... and some of them went on to be fine NCOs in our Army. To the issue in this thread ... IMV it is purely an NCO issue ... and no higher than E7 at that. Don't wake me up for it.
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Sgt James Gross
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Tell him in private that he either obeys orders or faces disciplinary action either as Art. 15 or Courts Martial for disobeying a lawful order. The choice is his.
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