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

Let him know it's not up for discussion, dismiss the platoon to a subordinate leader and deal with the situation immediately. I would have him complete the task, then make him clean our facility, toilets, conduct a thorough police call of the area, give him a lawn mower and have him cut the already freshly cut grass all day. After he's done he will come see me for a counseling at 1700. He will stand by for an hour as I type the counseling and catch up on some emails. I will let him know that he's not to ever challenge me, ever, and doing so will land him a recommendation for UCMJ and extra duty. He will have a loooong day, and a long week to think about what he did.

It didn't fxxxxxg happen in my Army!

CSM Hayden, retired 7NOV1981

I'm reading some of your posts thinking, this is what's wrong with the military today. Praise publicly admonish privately? HORSE SHIT! Insubordination requires an immediate example to be made!

Old corps. I'd knock him out right there on the spot. Transition corps. I'd write him up and take his stripe. New corps. I'd apologize for hurting his feelings and tell him to go to his safe space. I'd then find someone else to do the work he doesn't want to do.

You DO know I'm kidding right? Best answer I've seen comes from a fellow Marine. @CPL(P) Shaun Smith MBA, PhD Student (https://www.rallypoint.com/profiles/737480-15t-uh-60-helicopter-repairer) knocked it out of the park.

Time for a positive teaching moment. Nothing personal, Private, but you now enter the realm of enhanced attitude improvement. Assign someone to supervise his attitude adjustment activities. Not UCMJ stuff, just supervised visits to a brig, observation of work details, and other alternative demonstrations of what he could face if he continues his path of self-destruction.

Had an A1C almost throw an instrument at me. We had a slow day as our planes were on weather delay. We had an instrument sitting on our launch and recovery truck waiting to be placed back on a plane. I called job control and asked if there was any reason why we couldn't put it back in the plane to save it from possibly being broken rolling around on the shelf. I was clearly told, in front of the whole crew on the truck at the time, that it could be replaced. I was an E5 and gave the task to this E3. He bitched, moaned and complained the whole time he was getting the tools and took off for the plane. He came back to the truck about 10 minutes later cussing and cursing. He raised the part and aimed it right at my head and screamed, "You stupid bitch, it has open fuel tanks and I can't put it in. You are such a stupid idiot sending me on a job that can't be done." He added a few other choice words before deciding throwing the part at my head probably wasn't a good idea. I told the driver to take us to the shack immediately. I marched the young airman to the NCOIC's office and told him to tell him what just happened. He gave "his" version than I told him the real version. He called in other people from the truck and asked them the story. He also called job control to verify that I did get clearance to work the plane. At the end of the day, the young man was lucky he didn't get an article 15 for several reasons including threatening an NCO with a "weapon". He got an LOR and 3 months of all the nasty chores available around the shack from cleaning both bathrooms to all the mopping, sweeping, FOD walks several times a day in all weather (was in England). He also had to apologize to me in front of everyone for all 3 shifts. Oh, this was in the early 80's and I was one of only 3 or 4 female NCO's in our section working avionics. I did have a private talk with said A1C on my own as well. I think he, and many other's as well, got the message.

When I was a PL, that happened once or twice. I would just look at my PSG, he'd nod, and I'd watch the smoke. It was rare though. I had an amazing PSG who didn't let shit slide. We were a great team.

I had an E8 come into my room to tell me that he had just volunteered me to move tables for the Chaplin. I had just worked over 60 hours in the previous three days, and had only been back at the barracks for about 15 minutes. He didn't like my answer. My work involved precision timing and working with high voltage. I averaged 140 hours per 14 day cycle. There were four others who could have done the job, but he was trying to provoke me into a fight, to Court Martial me. I refused to take his bait. I was an Engineer, not a lackey.

I was so exhausted that I was shaking as I told him that I wanted to speak to the Inspector General. He moved those tables. By the time the dust settled, he came close to being reduced to an E1, while the commanding General put my SP4 pins on me. This wasn't long after I was pulled out of bed after another three day shift to fight a forest fire, while sleep deprived.

It is one thing not to want to take an assignment that you don't like. It is another thing to refuse to be abused. That last year of active duty pretty much destroyed my heath, but no one gave a damn. It was at the Army's Cold Weather Research Center in Alaska, in the early to mid '70s.

I like some to all of the comments below. I especially like the ones of having this individual stand fast with his team leader and get the TL involved. However, sense the NCO cannot commence the laying on of hands any more in the military; I would suggest no matter what is discovered for the attitude problem, a counseling statement must be completed and filed on this individual. Another thought if you have not got the First Sergeant involved yet is the Platoon leader needs to write him a counseling statement also. I have spent way to much time watch NCO's try and rehabilitate Mr. Attitude when he really needs to be a civilian. He is part of the 10%. Plus don't you NCO have something called the self defense pit. Sounds like training time to me. If the attitude continues get rid of him and move on.
Bill Murray LTC (Retired)

What do you call an E-2 that gets reduced in rank by an Article-15? An E-1!!!! Correct!! Simple as that! Anything less than that means the E-5 is not worthy of his/her stripes! A second offense would be forfeiture of pay and confinement to company area! A third offense he goes to PFC "Poor Frickin Civilian" Ha! God Bless our Veterans! - Top

That attitude is insubordinate and destructive to the unity of the outfit. A private corrective consultation would his first and last chance, to get squared away.

I would put him on his face right there on the spot, and maybe even given him some extra duty. As a Marine understanding instant obedience to orders could be the difference between life or death. This should not be and can not be tolerated

I think someone just volunteered to be the example of what not to do and why. His self destruction will be a good example for others.

That did not fly in basic or at my duty station, no matter what was going on in your personal life. If you were crazy enough to back talk you got smoked so bad you'd be lucky if you could walk afterwards. And if that did not remind you to keep your smart mouth in check then Art. 15. Order must be maintained in all facets of the Military. If you let a subordinate back talk you when you are assigning simple chores, this will give leave for the others to question your leadership in general. So, when it comes to hazardous duty stations you will have chaos. However, that private just volunteered him/herself up to be an example of how you will discipline anybody else who thinks he/she is above keeping their mouth under control. Lead by example :)

Immediately ask the Soldier, "What is it about you, that makes you think you should behave that way?" His response will determine step two.

In such a shituation as I once had,...I informed the smartass PFC, "Yes... it is '...going to happen'..."!!!
"It's a lawful order, whether you like it or not..."it's going to happen""! I ensured the platoon that I myself and senior leadership will be present in the motor pool to check on progress. If anyone, including PFC Dipshit had a problem with this, he needs to stand fast after dismissal. I also had PFC Dipshit drop at the leaning rest until I got tired. Once the platoon was dismissed, and PFC Dipshit was exhausted...I calmly explained to him should he make a another outburst in formation again, or challenge my authority, he would be facing more than the gravel, rather an Article 15 or worse.
He accepted and moved on to fofill the lawful order of inventory layouts for the commander.

Take him out for some one on one pt and wear his ass out. After he is done revisiting some pt nightmare from boot camp ask him if he would rather continue or complain.

It is to bad that political correctness crap found its way into the military. When I was in boot camp and out someone would have had a bad trip across a foot locker. No more disrespect.

Skull drag through the dirt for starters.

Discipline is the instant willing obedience to all orders. You can't allow this to happen anywhere because it may then happen in combat and cost lives and mission success.