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

Call for a Corpsman, PRONTO!

You take the lead and responsibility you have earned and repeat the command one more time. Should the E2 not respond in a positive manner and complete the task given an Article 15 would be appropriate.
You have to take command of the situation or there will never be any respect from the remaining individuals in the formation. When you are in command. .Command.

As a Marine infantry sergeant it is your job to build an unbreakable bond of trust and respect among your troops. I personally wouldn't have to take any action because I would more corporals and lance corporals on that motherfucker before it even registered with me what happened!

The response must be swift and clear. While I agree with some comments about counselling in private, if you do not make your position and intolerance for the behavior public, you will erode the respect from his peers.

So... time to make the young soldier an example. Clearly and publicly instruct the SM that this discussion will continue after formation in the 1SG's office. Instruct him to break formation and wait for you there. Do not pass go, and if asked why you are there, no details are to be discussed with TOP until you are present. Inform them that they should only incline that they are there to discuss an issue of insubordination only... any additional discussion before you are present will constitute further insubordination.

This MUST be done in earshot of his peers. You CANNOT allow the perceptin that this is acceptable.


Then procede with the real conversation in the 1SG's office.

All of the answers to this question are exactly what is wrong with the military these days. All of this cotton tailed nonsense. You whip that punk into shape right then and there. The end. I was terrified of my Sergeant.

We all have a different leadership style, however i never agreed by leadership by a pen. TSgt Earl Needham and I agree with how to handle it. If I even think my authority has been challenged in public, which has happened once or twice, i instantly correct said problem in formation and publicly loudly and aggressively. Example is made that insubordination will be dealt with quickly and firmly. As a bonus PFC Shitbird, will be a master ninja at the art of performing on working whenever they came along until I believe a lesson has been learned. Instant obedience to orders, which if you have shown leadership by example this issue should rarely happen. Once again everyone's leadership style is different.

I have never seen anyone actually killed with a knife hand, but I believe this would be the proper occasion.

In all seriousness, this issue is not about the E5 and the E2, it's about the E5 and respect from the entire unit. Blatant disrespect in public must be dealt with publicly. Your soldiers must see that you will not tolerate one second of disrespect. The method you use to communicate that to your soldiers is up to you. If it happens privately, there's other ways to deal with it - paperwork probably being most effective.

I would give him the command to check his /her mouth and remind him/her that his/her failure to comply with the order of a Non-Commissioned Officer is punishable under the UCMJ and that after the detail is complete you and he/she will have a discussion where you are going to decide how move forward on further chouching, counseling and recommendation to the CoC for punishment which can include an Artile 15 or Courts Martial. Have that counseling with another NCO present and decide how you'll proceed then.

Alot of you guys are looking at a small problem here, however, the big problem is, "What is the enviorment of this Command where an E-2, with less than a year, is not the least bit afraid to talk to an NCO in this manner. CSM Pendry stated in his book "3 Meter Zone" that the number one problem of a "3 Meter Soldier" is the "3 Meter NCO/Leader!!!!" Leaders set the standards that they want their soldiers to follow. If an E-2 is mouthing off to an NCO; I can almost guarantee that this NCO is part of the problem. During my first week as a fresh 1st Sergeant to this unit, I witnessed a female E-4 arguing with an NCO. After it was over, I did not immediately address the soldier, I immediately chewed the NCO entire butthole out. He was the problem because he allowed a soldier to get that comfortable to believe that she could get away with this bull!!!!! Don't get me wrong, I did not allow the soldier to get away with this, however, the bigger issue was the soldiers' leadership.
Now, this is how I would've dealt with this problem. Earlier, someone made the comment of giving "praise" in the front and reprimand behind close door. Technically, he is correct and that being all fine and dandy working in a perfect world, however, if a soldier is disrespectful/insubordinate to a leader in front of others. That leader must and should discipline this individual in front of that same group. We never want the lunatics to think that they are running the insane asylum. Get into his ass where the offense occurred and then document it and provide him with alot of "PUNITIVE" remedial training after hours. I am stating this again, "NCOS/LEADERS SET THE STANDARDS THAT THEY WANT THEIR SOLDIERS/SUBORDINATES TO FOLLOW!!!" Please an E-2 with less than a year of service mouthing off to an NCO. SMH!!!!!!

I actually had a young man pull this on me, but not while in formation. I was an E5 shift supervisor on a mountaintop site in Italy. The trouble stemmed from the fact this young many was a 4-year college graduate, and he believed the additional duty assignment was beneath him. I remembered all my NCO training about rewarding publicly and punishing privately. I prepared a letter of admonishment, had him report to the workcenter office, and presented his "gift" along with a pretty strong tongue lashing. He never questioned me again.

You mean after his ass whooping?

I don't know how today's Marines would handle it after 8 years of Obama. With all the time out cards and mommies calling congressman. There may have been a small blanket party and then a shit load of crappy guard duty and fire watches. Refusing a direct order. NJP.

No comment, I wouldn't want to incriminate myself.

Oh I'm sorry pfc I didn't know you were in charge. My mistake, why don't you come out front here and let Everyone know what the word for tomorrow is. Oh you don't know?!?

THATS BECAUSE YOURE NOT SMART ENOUGH TO KEEP YOUR GODDAMN MOUTH SHUT IN FORMATION. THANKS TO PFC DIPSHIT PT IN THE MORNING 0300. I'd recommend drinking a lot of water tonight.

Anyone else have something to say to me?

Had a situation similar years back at a small duty location in the middle of a large civilian area. Small military numbers, no "real base" around and an OIC the same age of some of these barely out of their teens who liked to party with them. Had an E4 report more than an hour late for swing shift on a Sunday, uniform looked as if had been slept in and wearing athletic shoes. When questioned why late stated he had lost track of time, forgot uniform shoes and didn't do laundry. Instructed him to return to his quarters, and return most rapidly in a clean, pressed uniform with proper footwear. Twice, the second time stated as a direct order. Told me to "F" myself and as mentioned had problems already with some new troops who thought they were more civilian than military. Didn't say anything more but picked up the phone and called the senior controller on duty, explained the situation and requested a senior NCO's presence. Not much later an E8 showed up, ascertained the problem and restated the order, again refused. Escorted out by local security, directed troops to sit down individually and write statements, OIC notified and did my own homework with Personnel on Monday and learned that he was already on Control Roster for insubordination to a commissioned officer and was only allowed to PCS because he was on a remote and the dirt bag OIC and never told the staff NCO's. In summary, I requested an Article 15, OIC tried to talk me into accepting an "apology". Lost stripe and more roster time but the other kids who thought it was all a joke and game all of a sudden realized they were in the military and the other Flight Chiefs noticed an extreme change in attitude also. Sometimes you need to burn down the outhouse to get the stink out.

Pushups till I got tired!

I keep reading about UCMJ. If you are an NCO and you can handle a Private E-2 open disrespect without UCMJ you need to take off your stripes. I would have the young private explain to me why I should assign the task to another Soldier while he is in the front leaning rest. If he has a valid point then he can get up. He does not have a valid point then he can stay in that position while I finish the formation. After formation, the corrective training would ensue followed by his reporting to the proper location to conduct his work detail. After the detail is complete he would then report to his counseling session and other such actions as directed by his squad leader and/or Platoon Sergeant. It would be a very long day for the young private but at the end of the day, he would still have his money and his rank. The second time he refused and smarted off in formation then the rank, money, and time would go away.

Going off the information in the question no more, no less. Once an PV2 says "shove it" to an NCO, it's game on. I would tell him that he's about to become the newest PV1 in the Army unless he shuts up and completes his assignment. Everyone has details they don't want to do. Privates are going to complain, I did my share when I was one but understood the chain of command. There is no way a private should be saying anything close to "shove it" to a leader.

Can you take 'em? Informal counseling... can't? Art. 15