Posted on Oct 16, 2016
LTJG Ansi Officer
1.85M
16.7K
5.38K
1.5K
1.5K
0
08a24fcb
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?
Avatar feed
Responses: 3697
Votes
  • Newest
  • Oldest
  • Votes
Cpl George Matousek
0
0
0
Write him/her up for office hours, needs to realize who is in charge. Semper Fi
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
MSgt John Fisher
0
0
0
Would see the troop with his supervisor after formation, remind the E3 there is only 2 ways he is allowed to address an NCO, Parade Rest or Front Leaning Rest their choice but they better pick one right away. Explain to his supervisor that he needs to get his troop in line and back up to standards or I will and I promise he wont like the way I will. IE recommend Article 15 for insubordination etc. Look the troop dead in the eye. Which means you may have to get in the front leaning rest with him or her and remind them that they are acting like a "soup sandwich" and if they want to stay in your military better get their head out of their 3 points of contact and fall in line like the others or better yet you don't like working/taking orders from me then you best get promoted and promoted quick because I guarantee you wont see any promotion on this road your on! Your choice! Then let his supervisor handle it via verbal or written counseling. The supervisor should know his troop better than you, not an excuse for you to not know your troops however, and he will get said troop in line or that supervisor will not be one for long.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Joseph Vallela
0
0
0
Finish giving out tasks for the rest of the formation. Dismiss the formation and have the pvt stand by. After the rest of the formation leaves the area, discuss the lack of respect not only for you but the rest of the platoon. Explain how his insubordination tears down cohesion within the unit and won't be tolerated. Tell him the tasks assigned to him are just as important to the mission as your tasks are , and they are within his current skill set. Explain to them if the behavior persists, you will recommend other punishment under UCMJ.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC Professional Business Owner
0
0
0
Corrective training. He would now be required to give a class on military courtesy and rank of not less than 50 minutes to be presented to the whole company at the next training day. Said program would be reviewed by me and the upper echelon of the unit for accuracy and completeness. This class would be prepared during the next weekend since he will be restricted to barracks for that period.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
CPO Kurt Baschab
0
0
0
You must nip that in the bud very quickly,
I would have ordered the member to stand outside of the chief Mess,( E-7 AND ABOVE) the Junior Member Will be order to stand at the Position of attention every day for the next MO, outside of the Chief Mess, until he is called in, for a Uniform Inspection, this will happen Monday - Sunday, every day right after breakfast.
Once Member has completed his uniform inspection, the Senior Military member will inspect his living quarters, after that is completed, he will be given every shit detail we have.
on top of that, Member will be given training to his fellow service member on custom & Courtesy, on How to wear your uniform correctly, what is and is not a lawful order. etc.
it is the job of the senior Enlisted to ensure the junior members have pride in there military service & Uniform.

I have found when I have a smartass member, or a Member who does not have pride in his service and work, the member does not have pride in his Military service, does not have Pride in his uniform Appearance or in the work he or she is assigned to complete most importantly he or she does not have pride in themselves , it are job to instill that pride , and to mentor junior member

My point is, those who do not have pride in there uniform do not have pride in there service, or pride in there Work, once member starts having pride in his service and uniform he or she will have pride in every job he or she is assigned to complete. it is amazing how that works .
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Francis Center
0
0
0
I would release all others and give him a second chance.If that does not work ,I would escort him to first Sargent and explain the situation in front of first Sargent and leave it to first Sargent to dish out punishment.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Lt Col Richard Miller
0
0
0
Edited 1 y ago
Gunny Pepper is absolutely correct. The PFC and his supervisor must be called out immediately. The correction must be made on the spot without hesitation or reservation. In my 33-year career, I have had the pleasure of serving with the Marines on numerous occasions both in Peace and in War. Never had a problem with any of my Marines in following my ORDERS. RICHARD L. MILLER, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Rob Lawrence
0
0
0
Ordinarily counseling someone should be done in private. However, in my opinion this incident is an exception to the rule. This was a blatant act of disobedience that was done in PUBLIC. To not respond in immediate time, allows other individuals within the unit to think this young joker just got away with something. Let the punishment fit the crime, mouth off in public, expect to hear about it in public.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Richard Bladl
0
0
0
I would wait until all are dismissed except for him, then march to the orderly room and 1st Sgt to discuss punishment. Needs to be put in his place now or he will be a problem from then on.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Tammy Joy Partridge
0
0
0
After formation find out what’s really going on with the troop. If it continues then counseling and or UCMJ.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO2 Howard Carrell
0
0
0
In the late 60’s and early 70’s. If you had an E2 act like an ass an E5 would just assign him to a shit job and he would know why. If that did not work it was down hill from there!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO2 Howard Carrell
0
0
0
When I was in the Navy, a marine E5 was respected or else. I had many marines who were assigned to me during major buildups of bombs, I was an E5 and I had to tell the Marine E5 what I wanted his men to do. Very easy getting things done.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SFC James Corona
0
0
0
Every situation is different. How so?
A counseling session slone may be appropriate to see what's eating the soldier as a rehabilitation attempt. Listen, and let the soldier open up and be honest. Married privates in most cases have more problems. Find a solution. If he/she is a habitual offender then you need to lock his/her heels with an NCO witness for article 15 proceedings if it goes that far. A soldier may push his/her luck to see your tolerance and thus continue insubordination. The soldier may have come from poor leadership climate that slowly built up. Stand your ground and set a positive leadership example.
During combat, tolerance flies out the window and can cause the lives of other soldiers!
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Noah S Ynclan
0
0
0
This is the appropriate course of action. You temporarily disengage so as not to give said Private the chance to degrade your power base any further in front of the rest of your troops.

To everyone else: "Is everyone else, clear on their work assignments for the day?"
Dismiss them to their work assignments.
Once they have cleared the AO, then you get back with said private and lock them up, "PVT Snuffy, Parade, Rest!". At that point either they comply or they do not with said command. It is a lawful order and one that you should be able to cite via the UCMJ as a Non-Commissioned Officer.

If they do not comply and get at the position of Parade Rest which is a modified position of attention and start yapping at the gums again, then you clarify that the position of Parade Rest is a modified position of attention. Hands overlapped in the small of the back, head and eyes straight forward, and mouth closed unless asked a question or requested to respond.

This will tell you if its a personal thing with them or a personal thing with you; i.e. insubordination!

If its blatant insubordination that they are not willing to participate in motivational self correction, i.e. a smoke session or some written assignment/homework as a means of brief extra duty, then you make clear that they will receive a formal counseling statement which will include an improvement plan and referral to higher up the chain, i.e, referral to a Section Leader/Squad Leader who has more experience in such matters and if the Private is continuing non-compliance then he should most likely be referred to the 1SG of the company/section so that they may be refered to other resources prior to a potential evaluation for a Failure to Adapt Discharge. Do not sink to their level. Afterall, you are the one in charge. Defer to higher leadership if they are not willing to assist in their own self conformity and improvement. The longer you allow it to continue or give them the chances to keep challenging you, the more of your powerbase you risk losing in front of the rest of your team.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
1LT Brandon Brackett
0
0
0
send Jodi boy on a mission
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
1SG Rene Davis
0
0
0
Whaaaat?
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Cpl George Matousek
0
0
0
I report him/her to the 1stSgt for office hours. Semper Fi
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSgt Milo Ratbottom
0
0
0
I had a similar experience, when I was tasked to gather some young troops up to police some grounds ahead of a V.I.P. visit. The E-2 that was defiant and questioned my order explained while he was getting smoked.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Juan Robledo
0
0
0
I never encountered something like that from an E2, but an E4 yeah, he extra duty for 30 days and 7 days restriction
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC David C.
0
0
0
Tree line immediately. That E2 will accidentally trip and fall, several times, behind closed doors of course. If you don't crush that right away, no one will respect you going forward, nor should they.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

How are you connected to the military?
  • Active Duty
  • Active Reserve / National Guard
  • Pre-Commission
  • Veteran / Retired
  • Civilian Supporter