What do you do when a soldier refuses to listen to your directions?

Start with asking the Soldier to explain why he didn't think he had to follow the order. Perhaps he was wearing prescription glasses which are authorized for wear in formation, even if they are tinted. No matter the case, he should be counseled though. Ncosupport.com has great references and examples.

Have the soldier produce his cell phone and call his momma.

SSG (Join to see) Hey bud, what do you mean? For example, if I told my Soldier he needed to cut down on all the sweets and replace them with fruit because he was over weight what would I do? In that case, I would make a record on a DA FORM 4856 and put it in his counseling packet to show I am mentoring to him about health and fitness.

"Legally"...... NJP comes to mind. That sailor (in my case) would be driving a broom and mop for days, along with extra duty, and a "Training Opportunity" for him to give a presentation to the rest of the division about proper military etiquette, wear of the uniform, proper care of shoes, etc.... The others in that sailors work party 'may' take them for a little personal 'instruction'..... but of course I would know nothing of that.

If he was a Marine...big IF! But if he was a Marine remove said marines glasses along with his head.

I failed basic so my opinion means didly squat here but I'd appreciate being heard anyway.

My 1st week in training I got an injury to my foot from misfalling off the rope bridge. I was on profile to not run but walk. Seeing as that was my first real bct experience I was pretty shaken up and nervous about talking to my own ds, much less another companies. When I was walking up to the chow hall one of the other companies in my battalions ds stopped me and asked why I was walking. Nervous as I was I said I was on profile and continued to the chow hall forgetting to address his rank (yes I know much better now) I ended up with an a15 for disrespect of an nco and it wasn't until the night prior to me shipping back home from failing that I finally got to apologize to the nco for my mistake.

My guess is if there's a blatant refusal to follow nco direction they have no respect for the leader and they need a harsh a15 and reminder of the structure of rank and command.

Thanks for hearing my story.

How is this even a question!? Art 15!

I say UCMJ action is the proper way to do it. It is a disiplinary issue specially if the soldier dis it in front of his peers. Even if it's his first offense. Now, if it was in private or nobody saw it, probably I would recomend a suspended article 15 just to prove my point.

Instead of getting pissed and butthurt that the old days are gone, learn what the generation gap is, how to mitigate it, and how to make it work for you, your unit, and the Army.

As a Sergeant, you're supposed to learn constantly. I did it. Are you doing it? Or are you going to continue to wring your hands about not being able to hit other people anymore because they didn't do what you say?

This is a leadership failure at two levels.
1. Sounds like weak NCO leadership. The NCOs responsible for this soldier should have found the motivating factors necessary to enlighten this marginal troop to understand the need for conformity while in formation, or he should have been removed from the formation. No excuses.
2. The officers in charge of the NCOs should display the professionalism to allow NCOs to conduct NCO business. That means no EO complaints, no "Kinder, Gentler Army" bullshit. BLUF...Sir, this isn't your concern.
Don't crush his glasses or any other horse shit stupid reactions.
Give the soldier a lawful order and if he refuses, have the MPs drag his ass out of formation and initiate UCMJ action....or not, and accept you are part of a totally pussy-fied, social experimental Army.