What would you do if you had a junior Sailor that will not adhere to simple regulations and "forgets" to do what he is told?

Oh yeah...here's one for the books:

About a year into my first DIVO tour, we were having trouble in the Division with folks coming in a few minutes late while in the Yard. We'd finished a long deployment and were in the middle of a tough maintenance period...no one was having a good day.

Little Ensign Gillespie was all bent out o'shape and laid down the law stating that the next person coming in late might as well bring a sea bag, 'cause they weren't leaving for a week...

...guess who was five minutes late the following day!

I walked into formation carrying my sea bag and told the boys I was as good as my word...spent the next week living onboard.

Didn't have any more tardiness issues though.

Put this Junior Sailor in charge of something important (but not too mission critical) to where regs and standards have to be followed and nothing can be allowed to be "forgotten." Give this person the proper training and information to do this job (so it doesnt come back to bite you). This way, when something gets FUBAR, then this Sailor is the one responsible. Hard lessons taught the hard way sometimes have to be done.

Ha! been there...done that, PO1!
I've always found that there are two types of personnel who don't "get it"...one feels like they're underutilized, the other isn't a good fit for the service.

With the first type, I found that handing them more responsibility (not "busy work", but real challenges) did the trick...let 'em see what the "big picture" is and how much of a part they really play. Get that young sailor to WANT to be a Chief (or O)...and realize it doesn't take as long as it seems when you're 19 or 20.

The second type has a real issue. Sometimes, and I stress "sometimes", they can be rescued by a combination of involved leadership from both the SEL and O side, and the direct impact of their shipmates getting them to play ball...most times, they're a mast or three away from Civ-Corps.

I've seen some real hard-cases turn into amazing sailors...and I've seen some zeros string along until the inevitable.

Bottom line, I've always felt that it's premature to diagnose someone as a "lost cause" till you've tried everything. One of the most amazing things I observed was the skill the Goat Locker had in motivating young sailors (even some wearing officer rank). I was fortunate enough to have some of the best Chiefs in the Navy (in my opinion)...my last was pretty much a "Dad" to all of us in the Department, and well respected from the Wardroom to the Crew's Berthing.