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

Wow!! I would write them up (counsel them) for disrespecting an NCO and disobeying orders and give them correctional duties that would take away much of their time and that are physically taxing. For example, before PT (around 5:30 a.m.) they would have to report to duty in ACUs and perform police call around the battalion or battery/company area and when they were finished they would have to change into PTs and still do PT. Before they go home in the evening, they would have to clean up some kind of cleaning details. If after all that or during that, they were still disrespectful then it’s time to start recommending for punishment

I have been out for a long time, so this might not be acceptable in today's US Army. My answer would be "RUTHLESSLY" and all that entails The mere fact that one of your troops had the balls to do such a thing... well there is obviously an issue within the unit that needs to be dealt with ASAP. I would likely make an example of the soldier in question if for no other reason than to show the rest of the unit what happens when you "step on your dick" personally, professionally, and PUBLICLY!

I know what my NCO’s did. That was the day I found out what “ain’t no rank behind the tank meant. But nowadays I’m sure you’re not allowed to take him behind the tank and give him a wall to wall Counsiling so I guess ask him nicely not to do it again? I don’t know.

I had this BS with an E3 that refused to make morning coffee after having section duty the previous day. I told him I would talk to him after morning quarters, I made the coffee. Even after a private discussion he still refused so I wrote him up. He refused the CPO, Div Officer, and XO. He went to captain mast, lost his E4 promotion, and was busted to E2. I then left the ship as I was getting out. He ended up getting written up for another offense during Ops in Vietnam and ended up in the brig on the carrier.

Today he is a priest... go figure

I, an E4, told a E2 to do something (we all had a long, and bad duty period,) he asked why, I told him because everyone else had other stuff to handle before we could get liberty. He then said "but why do I have to do this?" Me, wanting to go home and upset he is questioning my order said sternly "Because you are a non-rate and I am a petty officer, and I just gave you an order to do it." He reluctantly completed the task, but then told my superiors about the incident, both my fellow MK3 (he was also there,) and I were called to the rec deck, they asked what happened, we both said exactly what happened, then they asked which one of us said to do it because the E2 "was a non-rate" and "I'm a petty officer?" They thought my fellow MK3 was the one who said it because he seems like the type to say something like that, but I owned up to it and said I did. They were both surprised, but none the less, I got chewed out about it. Looking back I should have phrased my order differently, without using my frustration, but I didn't. I did end up apologizing to the E2, because yes he was questioning a lawful order, but given the overall circumstances, I was a little bit out of line by pulling rank to get him to fall in line.

We were all having a bad day, and I should have held my tongue and explained why he was given that task differently. If you are a new leader, take my experience as an example of what not to do in such a situation. Yes I could have argued that I was in the right, and the E2 was in violation of UCMJ for his actions, but at the end of the day, we are all humans. We all still have bad days, and that's not a hill I was willing to die on, I just wanted to swallow my pride and make things right with the E2. I still have a lot to learn about leading others, and therefore I would appreciate any constructive feedback anyone has on this incident.

All my 21 years of service I had my fare share of this and it was corrected on the spot. However on my 21st year I had one to buck up and he said "You can't order me to do that task" I replied "I asked you first and you reject, then I ordered you to do it and you still rejected to do it. So I gave a Lawful Order to do the task" He went to the area where the task was to be done and he wasn't there. Then I got called to the 1st SGT's office. 1st SGT said I can't do that after I explained the situation and my self. 1st said "Don't let it happen again. I said "It won't" and went directly to Personnel Office and submitted my Retirement Papers. Not dealing with these snot nosed snowflakes that is still tied to Mommy's Apron Strings. I even had a WOC Packet in at that time.

I forgot to mention sometimes people fight back because of health concerns but usually it's just a dominance competition and they are fully able to compete.

Make him do crossfit while you tell him how he is supposed to behave and why he needs to be that way. That's how I learned. I never purposely messed up ever again. I still got smoked though because I was still in the process of becoming a soldier and that's how it works...made no room for error. Tight ship.

Is say as an NCO and now with over 20 years experience and a “Lieutenant” in a paramilitary organization, calm and cool is unequivocally how is react. I’ve seen way too much and have maybe an “ol’ man” attitude toward this. My reaction would be something like this, PFC So and So, if you would be so kind to accompany me after formation, I would love to hear your concerns on this matter in a private setting, ( never showing any overreacting emotion). If Mr PFC discussed this manner rationally, I would calmly and assertively inform him that he will suffer punishment befitting his insubordination and also make 100% clear he will never, not ever have a similar issue in the future! This is the Ol’ Man approach, being Old and having the utmost respect of the rest of the formation, this will almost always be “enough”. If the PFC reacts very emotionally he will see a dark side he will never want to see again, but it will be done in private, (this is also the confidence that comes with leading men for over 25 years in both the military and paramilitary organizations.

The only one that did that to me, spent three days on bread and water in the brig.

The Classic...drop and give me 50...pushup's. If he is defiant, he probably want's out of the military. After a stay in a military lock up...boot him out.

Believe me, if that was to happen in my Days. Shitbird PFC... would have been begging me for mercy.. in my Days as a Drill Sargeant there was no problem giving this PFC a really good ass crying day. He would have been asking God for mercy.

Knowing what kind of soldier this is turning out to, to me, I would give this E2 an article 15. Let some punishment sink in. I doubt "drop and give me 20" would have any effect. so, give an article 15. Take away weekend pass. Remove the soldier from things they want to do, and show them what it means to act out.

Not much else, in my opinion, you can do. If they tell you to shove it from a work detail, they will do the same with exercise and everything else. They have no respect for you or anyone else. The article 15 will put them in a place to mandatorily comply, or have worse issues.

On the flip side, there should be consideration to if the soldier is having issues you don't know about (like death in family, girlfriend leaving.. something to set them off). Has this soldier exhibited this behavior before? is this new or common of this soldier??? All things considered... this is the best I can think to say. I have not seen regulations since 2000. I was never above the rank of E2 myself. I do not know more than I DO know. SO, for those that know more.. please forgive me if my answer is not up to par.

It's not a democracy. PT his ass on the spot in front of the formation. Then dismiss the formation accept for the idiot in the push up position and quietly explain to him you will PT his ass every chance you get until he complies. Then ask him if everything is ok with him.

Let them know that this is not up for discussion. Write counseling and may recommend for summarize Art 15

Sounds like a go time to let him experience wall to wall counseling.

First, disrespect in the ranks is not tolerated.
I would take him aside, and offer him a chance to correct his attitude. If that didn't work, I would put him back in formation and make an example of him. If he still didn't correct his attitude, I would hand him to the Platoon Sergeant. If that is the position I am holding at that time, it would go to the 1SG.
The determination of an Article 15 or chapter would be up to the command.

Do everything you can to make him hate you, the unit and the Army. He'll wise up and start licking boots eventually.

I would discipline them. As an E-4 I was assigned to duty aboard an Aircraft Carrier. We were in port and had received a number of big rigs to unload to be placed aboard the ship by a crane. It required putting all the crates and boxes on pallets. I had a total nine men, E-2s and E-3s. I told them what we were going to do and how. I said let's get it done. One E-3 asked me where I would be having coffee and smoking while they worked. I did not feel that was disrespectful and deserved any disciple. So, I responded. "I will be in the truck passing the boxes to the assembly line I asked for. You may not know this from previous experience but, I have the duty as well as you. Just because I am in charge does not mean I cannot or should not work." I asked if there were any more questions. You could hear a pin drop. While we were working, a Chief Petty Officer came by and asked where the sailor in charge was. They said inside the truck helping with the unloading. He could not believe what he heard and entered the truck. He asked me what I was doing. I said it should be obvious, I have the Duty just as they do and WE are getting the job done. I was not sure if he was stunned or impressed but he left. The next day there was a note in the Plan Of The Day which I printed the previous evening. "ALL PETTY OFFICERS WHO HAVE THE DUTY ARE EXPECTED TO ACTUALLY WORK ALONGSIDE THEIR DUTY PARTY." I think I made a great many enemies that week.

Whens the last time the local cesspool has been bailed out? Lower ranking EMs want things to "be fair" and maybe this guy has been given shit details a lot more than his squadmates (from his viewpoint).