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

Immediate article 15, and if it happened again, dishonorable discharge! When I served that was the result of disrespecting a superior officer no matter the rank! That kind of nonsense in combat can get people killed!

not in my Army back in the day we done it another way, . he would have some wall to wall counseling , I don't know how they do it these days I got out in 1999. The first time he tells me to shove it I will do that very thing I will shove my foot so far up his ass he will see stars for days.

punch him square in the jaw.

In my day you would be dead meat,no mercy.now you have to feel for their feelings.you enlisted to defend this country not to cry when things don’t go your way.

I only have one comment: I'm glad I didn't have to spend my 26 years in "today's military". Too much bullshit for my taste, as I believe in following legal orders first and directly, and asking questions later if mission permits. Oh, I will add that AR15's should be a last resort IMO. Too much time spent on attitude alignment through channels/on paper can cost lives in a pinch.

This E2's assignment for the day would be explaining his actions to the 1st Sgt and the C.O. while I busied myself adding pages to his SRB for his Article 15 hearing.

(and this is just because they'd probably wanna bust me if I smoked the turd)

Get all the E-5s in the platoon and take way out in the woods and "have a attitude adjustment party".

I recently spoke with a medically retired E5 who was injured in Iraq and he told me horror stories of Enlisted folks showing their "Stress Card" which denies you of interacting with them for 30minutes. I had BCT in 1971 and the DI's didn't have any problem maintaining discipline. If you were having a hard time adjusting, you were put in a special training platoon that gave you a lot of attention. But they produced some good soldiers. We had some physical punishments such as extra PT or uncomfortable physical situations, Article 15's and deprivation of pay. You could be arrested by the MP's for significant insubordination. We have coddled our youth so much and expected so little of them that we are getting the harvest of the seeds we have sown. Compassionate discipline without accepting whining and crying as excuses is what we need to get back to. When I first started Basic I thought the DI's sure were assholes, but after a couple of weeks I discovered that they had all been to Vietnam and had lost friends and comrades there. They were determined that they would loose noone else on their watch if they could help it. My attitude changed with thjat epiphany. Discipline saves lives literally.

Straight up E-2 or former E-6?

In my time there never was a doubt that someone would not react to a command. Disrespect has no room in the military!!!!