Posted on Oct 16, 2016
How would you react to an E2 who "smart mouths" you in formation?
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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?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3697
Seems pretty simple. After everyone falls out put this E2 in the front leaning rest. While he/she is there explain that there is a time and place for discussion and this was not one of them.
As a GOOD leader, you will then take this E2 to a private area and figure out why they feel the way they do and see if the problem is deeper rooted to something ie marital issues, financial issues, depression. Maybe this E2 feels like they are being neglected by leadership. Explain to them that they CANNOT and WILL not disrespect you in front of your subordinates and if it happens again they will feel the weight of a chapter packet come down on them very quickly.
As a leader it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that your troops are being taken care of and it is YOUR responsibility to fix their issues. The second that you start toting your rank around like it’s a battle axe is the second that you lose the faith and respect of your troops. Be the leader you wanted to have when you were coming up.
As a GOOD leader, you will then take this E2 to a private area and figure out why they feel the way they do and see if the problem is deeper rooted to something ie marital issues, financial issues, depression. Maybe this E2 feels like they are being neglected by leadership. Explain to them that they CANNOT and WILL not disrespect you in front of your subordinates and if it happens again they will feel the weight of a chapter packet come down on them very quickly.
As a leader it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that your troops are being taken care of and it is YOUR responsibility to fix their issues. The second that you start toting your rank around like it’s a battle axe is the second that you lose the faith and respect of your troops. Be the leader you wanted to have when you were coming up.
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Suspended Profile
E5, so this is a squad, teams A and B? OR are you acting PSG?
ATTENTION, HALF RIGHT, FACE, BENDS AND MOTHERFUCKERS BEGIN, I count the cadence, you count the reps, 1, 2, 3, 4 1 Sargeant!(continue as needed)
Now that the entire group understands PFC/PV2/Squid Rating 2 is a dickhead and caused the entire group to get bent, we start over. Private Shitbird, you will clean the heads/latrines, regular work is then handed out to the rest of the squad/platoon. If it is one peckerhead in a squad, the entire squad remains to be bent. There will be no weak links in any squad, period because weak links get people hurt or killed in theater. Pvt Shitbir either learns or receives multiple statements(army is 4856) on performance, even though the reward for successes is given, and positive or negative punishment for infractions is received, he/she is chaptered out for Pattern of Misconduct, or Failure to Adapt.
If you are a good NCO this little bit of BS will go away fast as both the team and you correct this shitbird to become a good GI and commit to stellar performance
ATTENTION, HALF RIGHT, FACE, BENDS AND MOTHERFUCKERS BEGIN, I count the cadence, you count the reps, 1, 2, 3, 4 1 Sargeant!(continue as needed)
Now that the entire group understands PFC/PV2/Squid Rating 2 is a dickhead and caused the entire group to get bent, we start over. Private Shitbird, you will clean the heads/latrines, regular work is then handed out to the rest of the squad/platoon. If it is one peckerhead in a squad, the entire squad remains to be bent. There will be no weak links in any squad, period because weak links get people hurt or killed in theater. Pvt Shitbir either learns or receives multiple statements(army is 4856) on performance, even though the reward for successes is given, and positive or negative punishment for infractions is received, he/she is chaptered out for Pattern of Misconduct, or Failure to Adapt.
If you are a good NCO this little bit of BS will go away fast as both the team and you correct this shitbird to become a good GI and commit to stellar performance
I'm going to let him know his role! There is a chain of command and what is expected of him. While saying all that he is in the front lean and rest position. There is a reason you are a E-5 and he is an E-2!
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In the Navy? After Quarters, take the E-2 to the Department's CPO.
It's the CPO's Duty to decide upon displinary actions.
It's the CPO's Duty to decide upon displinary actions.
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I'd pull him out of formation and get him counseled. If that one fails, time for re-training. Military personnel are not to pick what or which tasks given they will do. Discipline must prevail in the ranks otherwise it would be a clusterf**k and others will follow. Unacceptable!!
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Suspended Profile
This is one issue I disliked in Army compared to my time in the Marine Corps article 15 his ass. This was an on going issue in the Army because most units wouldn’t put paper on Soldiers they felt entitled. If I disrespected my Gunny in the Corps it would be straight to office hours article 15. You have issues with these kids and you better hammer one or two with 30/30 and that crap will end butt cold in a unit. The Army has to start using a stronger hand with some of these troops.
See me in my shack immediately after quarters. That lad was about to receive some special counseling..
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Maybe he is just testing the water and tries to challenge your authority. Or he is just blunt and stupid. You need to understand his purpose behind his behavior. Is he trying to work his way out of the Army? Obeying lawful order is the basic Soldier skill. I have had several Soldiers like that in the past. To be honest it is no fun dealing with the disobedient Soldier. You need to counsel him and let him know what is right and wrong. My previous Soldier always talked back to me and challenged my authority as a team leader. He was a PVT at the time. I smoked him during PT session, followed by a few other smoking sessions and counseling. It worked pretty well.
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