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

I had something of a similar situation happen with an E5 in my first command. Uniform was unsat, personal appearance was unsat, and when I was back-talked, I referred the member to my senior NCO (E7). "You'll not be having such a conversation with me. You will talk to Chief A." I explained what happened, told him of the uniform issues and appearance, and the back-talk to the CO (me), and had him handle it. I have no idea what he did, but next I saw the member, the member was in the proper uniform and squared away.

Never having been E5, I can't speak for the junior-NCO side on it. But lawful orders are lawful orders, and my thought is to counsel him in writing and give him the choice of three options: a) the MOST unpleasant alternate task I can think of at the moment (scrubbing port-o-johns by hand comes to mind, or rearranging rocks in front of HQ, or straightening photos & plaques throughout the ground floor with a bubble level and carpenter's square) daily for a week, b) do the refused task **to inspected standard** every morning for two weeks, or c) an Article 15.

Have his squad leader counsel him. I was a 1/LT INF Platoon Leader.

Bring back 1967 standards and punch him in his smart mouth

Fortunately, I wasn’t ever an E-2 in the military. I came in as a 6YO in order to get additional schooling, as I had decided to make the military as a career before I even entered. As a junior member of the Navy, I was scared shitless of those for whom I worked for. That’s because I had gone to a military school during my 4 years of high school, and now I was dealing with the real deal. So I gave both respect AND followed orders of those over me.

Obviously this E2 hasn’t figured that out. Nor has he or she realized that shit rolls down hill, and as an E2, he or she is standing at the bottom, looking up. As a leader, I would have that person remain in place after everyone else (except one other more senior person to act as a witness to your corrective actions). I would then explain to that person in a friendly tone that we’ve all been in their shoes when we first started out and if they expect to start climbing that hill, they need to do better. Then I would change my tone to a rather loud, authoritative tone and told them that under NO CIRCUMSTANCES will I EVER explain myself to them again. They’re now in the MILITARY, not at McDonalds flipping burgers. And if they EVER show disrespect to either myself or another supervisor working on my behalf, I’ll put them on report and take both half their pay and their liberty for a few months. Then I would have them sign both a counselling sheet AND assign them EMI (Extra Military Instruction) that’s directly related to their infraction.

My method proved to be beneficial to those who worked for me. As a supervisor, I only had to put ONE person on report (that worked directly for me) over my entire career. That doesn’t count the numerous really bad and troubled students that forgot to leave their civilian egos, misbehavior, and criminal activities behind). That individual thought he could outright lie to me and get way with it, but I already knew his REAL story. I was a Course Manager and he was one of my on-block instructors. He decided to join a fishing tournament in Mobile, Alabama on a Monday while his students sat in their classroom (at Electronic Warfare Training on Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida). His excuse…he had a cracked windshield on his truck and needed to go to Mobile to get it fixed. Only, there was a dealership directly outside the base that could’ve fixed it. And obviously there’s companies that’ll come to you to replace a windshield as well. Not only did he loose his job as an instructor (along with a bunch of Liberty and half his pay), he also lost his instructor job and found himself handing out toilet paper until a ship was found that he could be sent to.

Oh…AND HE LOST THE FISHING TOURNAMENT AS WELL.

Well as I have experience here in two ways. As a fresh recruit in my time you and I would have went behind building, and after getting a can of Whoop Butt given to me, you would walk back around and I would follow after dragging my butt off the ground. Never happen again. Forward two years fail piss test, (hey it happen in late 80,s in Germany barely 20 ;) ) back to E2 AGAIN same situation with new squad leader who didn't know how much time and experience I had. Waited till dismissed and approached the individual and tactfully presented my case, and did what was told.

The soldier would spend the day with me. I would tell him/her loud enough for the whole formation to hear, "No problem, you are with me today." Not only would he/she accomplish the task I originally assigned but by the end of the day - that wouldn't necessarily end - that soldier would understand following orders to his/her advantage. After that I would have the soldier study military courtesies and the reasons behind them, of course after his/her other duties were accomplished each day. I would handpick his/her assignments until the message was honed in. No one is going to die because this soldier thought he/she thought he/she could determine which orders to follow. If I do my job right, he/she will become one squared away soldier.

Charge with ddisobeying lawful order and Article 15

Article 15 Hearing for demonstrating disrespect to a superior officer, service discrediting conduct, and failure to adapt to a military lifestyle.

“Other Tan Honorable” (OTH) administrative separation so they can return to the McDonald’s workforce.

This is tricky, because they don't realize that you too were a smartass e nothing once. We all were.

Best way to fix this (in my experience) was to put the E2 in charge for a day. Make him make the decisions. Make him answer to the Chief, stay in his hip pocket all day long. Give him the information, but make him do your job. All. Day. Long...

I did this with a guy, rode him all day long. Wore him like a shoe. And at the end of the day, all we had left was to get the trash out. So I told him so. He said :no problem, I got it..."

I said no, thats not your job. It is your job to make sure it gets out. I am going to give you a direct order to tell me "get the trash out..." he couldn't do it. It was hard for him. He had 18 months in, I had 20 years in. And I told him we could stare at that can all damn night and NO ONE is going anywhere until you sack up and tell me directly "You, get the trash out..."

Kid got all shaky, thought he was going to break. He finally said quietly, while looking down. "Please get the trash out..."

I told him nope. Look me in the eyes, and tell using your big boy voice.

"OS1, take the trash out!"

"No problem..."

I did this every Friday for the rest of the month. Rotated guys in and out. And I never had any problems again.

My Senior Chief got it. And thought it was hilarious. He'd find last minute "oh bytheways" for the guys. Simple stuff really, but hard for new guys. And the important thing here is not to throw guys under the bus, be there right beside them and coach them.

Your E2 might just learn something.