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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PFC Joseph Russo
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I am old school... knock his ass out.
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SPC Drug Suppression Team Investigator
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Take their time. Physical punishment isnt gonna solve squat. They do PT every morning anyways so that’s free. Have them write an 5 paragraph essay on the importance of following orders and the consequences of insubordination, give them a due date and start a paper trail. This not only teaches military style writing early on but helps with his mindset. His refusal to follow orders is a mindset. True leadership is inspiring the solider to change his mind on to why he should follow you not because you have stripes on your chest. That’s call ego and no one follows ego. Once YOU change your mindset that you aren’t the best thing since sliced bread because you have stripes and start leading by inspiration that’s when this won’t become a problem. Yours truly, the E4 Mafia.
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SPC David C.
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Dude you gotta absolutely crush that expeditiously. Forget this whole "senior E-5" bit...you're an E5 and he's a brand new out the box boot E2. Take him somewhere and smoke the shit outta him. Let him know if it happens again, you'll take it to the tree line.
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TSgt J.L. Brown Jr
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He would be doing the task, or he will fear the reaper. Article 15, of letter of reprimand. If he wants a career he will do what he's told. If not he's in for a troubling times
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SGT Ammunition Stock Control and Accounting Specialist
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Nip it quickly. Either through event oriented counseling or other..
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SGT Erick Holmes
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We would need to have a discussion in the woodline. For me, I will let the smart ass comment slide in formation. I'm a believer on not airing families dirty laundry. But rest a sure even though we don't air our families laundry we damn will learn how to wash it first.
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SSgt Gerald Morris
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I am an " Old Salty Marine " ( SSgt, 1973 to 1994 ), I have actually had this experience back in 1986 with a young Lcpl.

It took me a while ( About 15 Min. ) in hand to hand combat " Training " to square him away, but, it worked. .. He Immediately turned a " New Leaf " and became a Great Marine.

I understand and realize fully, that not all such circumstances require such a direct path to attitude adjustment. In my particular case, the young Marine was worth those efforts. Had he not been worth my time and effort, based on performance or other underlying issues, I would have had him stand fast along with my NCO ( Sgt ) and had that Marine written up for conduct unbecoming a Marine and failure to follow a direct order. In short, I don't have time to waste it on Marines that don't want to be there, so, I would have helped him along towards a ride home !

The Corps, along with all other branches is changing. Troops " FEEL " they are entitled to rebuttal of orders, reasons for those orders and that they be provided a voice in how those orders are carried out. I do NOT agree with what OUR SERVICES have become and where they are headed.

I'm just glad I retired BEFORE those changes took such a dramatic control and position, from the Commanding General wishing to make a political statement to the " NEW WOKE " Commanding Officers wanting to gain favor with that General.

Stand Your Ground, Honor Your Oaths
SEMPER FI
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Brad Miller
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You can (1) drop the Hammer of God on the mutineer, or (2) lose all moral authority over your command. Forever.
No, I was never permitted to serve (bad eyes), but I have been a manager at several companies, and the principle is the same.
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PFC Doyle Hayes
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Let him push the ground until he learns he's not dealing with his weak parents anymore
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SPC Michael Budzinski
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All depends on the person and can’t recognize their people. I was a smart ass and known to make the comment . Almost always corrected work assignments and well respected by my E5 and motor Sargent. Won the division maintenance award and maybe the only E4 in the Army with a double MOS of 63N and 45N. Tankers of E6 or E7 had zero problems with me and most friends. Heater goes out in your tank during winter in Germany? Back ordered and may see by summer. Had Chief order my parts, tankers removed their own heaters, I rebuilt, they reinstalled and heat the same day.

It’s teamwork and knowing your people. It depends what is coming out of the mouth and deciding if valuable. It’s also a NCO’s job to educate and make that kid a man with all different personalities. Worse person to serve with is a dumbass lifer who always pulls rank. Earn respect and teach then most stupid problems go away.

Everyone remembers who the best people served with and the dick. Don’t be the dick. Everyone knows how to pull rank, it’s the talk afterwards teaching someone to be a man and future NCO.
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MSG Michael Gay
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Praise in a large group. Call for that individual to stand fast as you dismiss the rest of your people. Then tell that individual that you will not tolerate insulting remarks.
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SSG Shawn Mcfadden
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Tell PVT FUCKHEAD that his life as he knows it, just came to an end.
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Cpl John Wahlgren
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Office hours
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SGT Gifford Allaire
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I'm old school....but I'd have either had him doing pushups till his arms fell off, or beat his ass right then. That's something that needs to be squashed right then and there. But since this is the new touchy feely army, recommend an article 15 for failing to follow a direct order.
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MSG Logistics (S4)
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A little wall to wall counseling, then have his next in line help him pack his bag to go home. We don't need that type in today's military, and if that attitude passes on to someone else, they probably won't be as patient. Put him/her out of their misery early.
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PFC Stanley Klatka
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Make him push!!
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Cpl George Matousek
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Charged with disrespect to an NCO and refusing to follow orders. Semper Fi
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SPC Kynthia Rosgeal
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My reaction internally is shock. Even though I was a specialist I had skill sets outside my pay grade and was often asked to take E1-E3 and get them either qualified to drive M113, 2.5 and 5 tons. clean, maintain and operate 50s and M60s, etc.

Basically free up an NCO to handle NCO shit. No butthurt, it felt pretty damn good to have my leaders have that level of confidence in my ability to train and manage. And almost always it went well, no pressure, group of grunts squatting around equipment and going through the steps. No sweat

Except one brand spanking new E2. I was prior service before returning as NG in my MOS, I was older than my peers and had no desire to seek E5. I was very happy with my pay and my flexibility as a soldier. E4 mafia for life. And before any of you lifers give me grief, at least buy me a beer so I can take you seriously (kidding, I've got nothing but mad respect for y'all).

Back to KIA E2 (know it all) I'm teaching the FNGs to quickly replace barrels on a 60. It's not difficult. 1. Gloves 2. Detach barrel and remove and let go of that 7th level of hellfire. 3. Replace and secure fresh barrel 4. Get back to feeding your gunner. Over simplified, but you get the idea of my teaching method. KIA E2, when I get to "are there any questions" speaks up and says "yeah, dude, why is a specialist teaching us this" ? No biggie. I remind him my address is either simply my last name (unique) or SPC name, and continue with the fact that last time we went out 2 60 barrels were deadline for overheating and I was asked to go over this with y'all. I am reminded, rather pointedly, "specialists have no fucking authority". Little does KIA know how the mafia works. I tell him he is factually correct, there is no actual authority in my rank, I'm little more than an overpaid PFC. However, our platoon Sgt, the guy with 3 stripes and 2 rockers has ample authority and I am following his orders. So, son, I need you to fully understand, before you say or do something you will regret, ask yourself "am I prepared to go up to my platoon sgts face and deny his authority"

Short version, the young soldier gained the benefit of experience at the hands of a reasonably patient veteran. Had he talked like that to the wrong NCO, it could have gone a lot worse than a simple explanation.

Just like cattle and horses, often the slow, measured approach yields more results with a lot less effort.

Had the little bastard kept it up, we would have been running with full gear and the 60s and heating up the barrels with blanks. The other FNGs would have squared him away.
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MAJ Janice Campbell. BSN, RN, CNOR
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Bring back discipline back to the military, just like when our former military was powerful. Full stop!
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PO2 Ronnie Chandler
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I was in this exact situation as a new E5. One of my guys actually told me to stuff it he wasn't gonna do anything I said to do. I went to my Div. Officer and asked how I should handle it. He tore me a new one then looked at me and said now you know. I promptly called everybody into formation and I saw him watching and I explained exactly who I wanted to do what and explained that these were lawful orders and if you refused I would make sure you were in a secure place until you got to see the Commanding Officer said butthead just laughed until base security escorted him out to their quarters. Never ever had to do that again. Said butthead said st captains mast that I wasn't clear in my directions Division officer asked him if he spoke English dummy looks at him and says Duh I'm talking English now ! It was just too funny to watch him dig his own hole. So yes shut it down or others will follow
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