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

Well we all know that it isn't concerning MARINES for we have measures to deal with this an FNG (rank doesn't matter) be walking Point, guaranteed that it cease ! Sf.

Goodbye, hello brig or stockade, which ever the case may be.

I can only tell you how I handled it. Scenario: less than 4 months since I returned from ‘Nam. E5, but there was only a section of the barracks set aside for E5s. Just before lights out one night, observed a Corporal tell a PFC to sweep down the center of the barracks. The PFC refused and walked away. The Corporal then picked someone else for the job.
My first action was to belay the order to the second guy. My second action was to tell the Corporal to meet me in the E5 section in 2 minutes. My third action was to tell the first guy (1) Say or to something else to give me an excuse and you will be charged with insubordination and (2) Now grab the broom and sweep or you can sweep with the handle shoved up your ass.
I then went back to the Corporal and made it clear that if I saw him take that kind of crap from a PFC again, I’d see what I could do to make him a Lance Corporal again.

You haven't reviewed your UCMJ and Manual of Court Martial very well. One you, ask he/she and doesn't comply, then you give a demand and still don't comply. Then issue a Direct Lawful Order. If subject still does not comply then put the said subject on report under ARTICLE 15 under the UCMJ for disobeying a direct lawful order. There is two types of Direct Lawful Orders. 1. Is verble & 2. Is Written. Oh! don't be under the misconception that only a higher ranking person can only issue a Direct Lawful Order. Lower ranking can issue the same to a higher ranking person.

You say: "Son, all I've ever asked of my soldiers is that they obey my orders as they would the word of God. We are here to help you, because inside every soldier there is a good American trying to get out." (Full disclosure: Paraphrase of a quote attributed to an anonymous Marine Colonel in Vietnam and used in the movie Full Metal Jacket.)

Front-leaning rest for 4 hours (or more). Destroy the sunglasses.

Remove him or her from formation,explain to he or her that if he can't no fallow instruction he or her can't be a part of a team. If there's a problem with the order he or she most reports to first sergeant office. No one will disrespect the platoon sergeant or the squad leaders. That's being nice about it in today's Arms force's..

This is not a soldier, and doesn't deserve to be called one, nor his/her rank. They have abdicated their enlistment oath and are guilty of fraudulent enlistment. Counsel them and then get them OUT.

We would put them on point during patrol, solved all sorts of attitude problems. In this new Army, I'd start with Sergent's punishment, escalate to Article 15, and if he or she still had hearing issues move on to a summary court. I have no use for those in the new generation who have issues following the lawful orders of those appointed above them, whether they are in the direct chain of command or not. I'm not putting one soldier's life in jeopardy for a slacker's or dead beat attitude who won't follow orders or instructions given him by his superiors and the Army shouldn't have any use for them either.

We use to put them on point during patrol - solved all kinds of attitude