Would an E9 comply if ordered to attention by an O1?

Had this happen to me. I was the Bn CSM, one of the units had a platoon going on an FTX, I went to the platoon formation and started to inspect the soldiers. The PLT LDR came out of the building and yelled who is in my formation get out now. I turned faced the LT smiled and saluted and walked away. The LT had to talk to the Bn CDR and Bn XO with his Unit CDR. He did not look happy walking out of the office. I had a talk to the Plt Sgt and 1SG.

Gentlemen....
1st thing to remember is professionalism...... 1sgs MSGs Sfc ... and all other NCOS.... LTs are a direct reflection of what they are taught... yes they are a leader... but they are learning alot on the fly... sit them down and brief them and debrief them ... behind closed doors... coach mentor teach.. yes you will run into hard headed people... you have a commander at other levels to handle those guys..be a professional...id have taken the ass chewing.. and politely asked them to step into my office... afterwards.. and have invited the commander to attend...lts are stressed out creatures.. most have so many additional duties... and not enough hours in the day... you treat them like they are human... a little dignity and respect goes a long ways

As a prior enlisted to Warrant Officer, it was my pleasure to witness too many of these events. Army Aviation is very officer heavy with the bulk being Warrant Officers. WO1's are very similar to 2LT's in the lack of experience department, however, they do have the benefit of the rest of the Warrant Officer Corps looking out for them so as not to make that same idiotic mistake (pissing off an E-9). That is unless we would set them up for it (did I mention CWO's can be deviously clever when they aren't drinking coffee?). The same can apply to a O1 trying to correct a CW3/CW4 in some random situation "based on his experience" which typically consisted of his college ROTC and flight school. My way to handle those was to say "thank you, sir, but, respectfully, you really have no fucking clue what you are talking about".

Doesn't fit the question exactly, but...

We had a 2ndLT at my Aircraft Maintenance unit. He was probably the 5th LT since I had been there. He was a Academe grad, and loved walking into the door way of our office, wait for everyone to go to attention and then just leave. Or, if he actually needed something, he'd come to the doorway, wait for everyone to go to attention (just about 6 of us working in there) and then to talk to the person he needed to talk to with out telling us we could sit back down. So, he was kind of a dick.

One day, Myself (as an E5) and my boss were talking to our Squadron Commander, an O-5, who's back was to the door. The LT walks in and stands in the doorway like usual. My boss and I looked up at him, and then looked back to the Commander, because he was talking to us. So the LT clears his throat...

The commander slowly turned around in his chair and said, "Yes?" The LT's face was priceless. He was stuttering and spittin. The Commander talked shit to him for about 3 minutes and then asked him, "Do you actually do anything around here?" The LT was just like, 'Uhh, yessir.' and left. It made my month.

My mentor as an E-5 was the BN CSM, as I was charged as one of the NCO's running the PSD. I remember working outside with some of my guys and he walked passed a 2LT without saluting him. His mind was on other things and he just didn't take notice. This the only time I have ever seen him not salute and officer regardless to rank. Anyways this LT just starts losing his shit, yelling at him , I insulting him and then he just tells him to drop. My CSM just smiled and got down and started knocking them out. When the LT told him to recover he made some snide comment about respecting higher ranks. Then my CSM walked back into the BN smiling. About ten minutes later the BC comes sprinting out looks at me asks where he is and I just point. That's the first and only time I have seen an LG get smoked, the only time I've seen an Infantry Offcer cry about anything other than losing a guy, and needless to say he didn't enjoy his life from that point on.

Although I was wrong and showed extreme disrespect to a prior enlisted O-2 as an E6 I had a "confrontation" with the Ship's Engineer Officer. We were underway and the EO came storming into my office, yelling at me about something I told his Supply Petty Officer. (I was the senior Storekeeper onboard; the other, an E4, was assigned to the Engineering Department). I turned to the ship's clerk, suggested he get a cup of coffee, and after he left, closed the door and locked it.

Tact and diplomacy are not family traits - perfect for when I made CWO, but they were quite useful in this situation. I figured if the LTjg was rude enough to scream, yell, and cuss at me I would give him back, in kind which I did. After a few minutes there was a knock on the door; opening it there stood the XO who said: "Can you hold the noise down a little? We're having a board in the wardroom." The LTjg stormed out, in a huff, in my opinion he lost the argument with me.

Later that day I went to the XO's Stateroom, explained what happened, apologized for my part in it; and all I got was a thank you from the XO. The next day, at quarters (all hands formation for your landlubbers) the EO was called front and center by the XO and made a public apology to me for his childish behavior the previous day...

Bottom line though - I was wrong, was disrespectful, but I held my ground.

First off an E9 is usually the NCO directly attached to an O5 or higher, better get two buckets of popcorn, butter bar won't have an ass left!

I wouldn't but by military rules an enlisted must salute an officer. I doubt any would go to attention though

If a fresh 2Lt got up in a Seargent Major or Master Gunnery Seargent's face I as a Corporal would have taken cover!!

Contrary to popular opinion in the Army, a Lieutenant out ranks a CSM. That CSM has great power due to time in service and senior officers that he knows personally. However, a CSM is required to follow lawful orders of those appointed over him. The good ones (i.e., those that understand this fundamental military relationship) will comply and provide counseling in private afterwards.