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

I think the shock would leave me completely speechless!

Public thrashing is the best way to handle this right then and there. Then you give him shi& house detail for a week.

E.M.I. to infinity and beyond

I would ask my assistant to take over, take the E2 somewhere private and handle the situation.

E2 would have spent the rest of the day on the flight line cleaning out padeyes with a plastic spoon and a styrofoam coffee cup. Afterwards they would be scrubbing bird shit off the hangar floor by hand

Never had that happen to me!

I'd Make An E-1 Out Of An E-2.
And Try Keeping Him There For a Couple Of Years Or So.
You Give Orders, They Take Orders.
Keep It That Way !!

I don’t know how to answer this I grew up in the Vietnam era. Am NCO have me a order I said yes sir. I did my gripping while doing the detail, quietly of course. Or the NCO took you out back and retrained you the hard way. You can’t do that today.

This is the correct response. Needs to be swift and straight to the point and what you expect of him now and in the future.

Discipline, but Quickly, even If it's in front of the rest of my troops. Basically bring him Right back to their basic training days. Then, after the Alpha Charlie, a Huge write-up to go into his file, the reminder of his oath when he Volunteered for service to his country, and the orders he would obey from those of higher rank. If the situation further requires, send that E2 straight to the main office. This pretty much sidesteps my 3 strike rule, but I'd rather make it known to that individual, along with the rest of the formation that Any lack of respect, discipline, and responsibility for one's actions can, and Will result in consequences. No games, no backing off, period.