How do I maintain professionalism?

It's very important that you handle this situation in a tactful manner or it could get bad for you very quickly.

Have you considered speaking to the Staff Sergeant about your concerns one-on-one while tensions are low? That would likely render better results than waiting until he's upset again to approach the subject.

SrA Wait, responding professionally is generally fairly easy since we are all taught how to address others within the military especially by rank. Your question is not so much responding professionally but in keeping your emotions in check, which if not restrained would spill over into your responses. This is the key issue. I'm not sure how old you are but you seem to be in your late 20s. Not saying that's a bad thing but just an observation. Even though he is the ranking individual, it doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't discuss ideas or thoughts on how the section operates. The key with this is watching not just what you say but HOW you say it too. Tone, inflection and non-verbal cues can transmit a much deeper message than words alone. Take the time to think about what you want to say to him and respond in a manner you would expect him to do with you, even if he doesn't. As you stated above, he may not have matured as an adult just yet but that doesn't mean you respond in the same manner, if that makes sense. It may take some time and A LOT of patience on your part but he'll eventually learn by watching YOUR actions and reactions. Make sense?

Let us know how it goes.

SSgt (Join to see) Patience is a Virtue: "Patience is a virtue." We're all familiar with that cliché, and many of us know that patience is listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 as among the fruit of the Spirit. So there's no disputing that the Christian ought to be patient. But as with most of the virtues, the biblical writers assume that we know what patience is and don't give an explicit definition. But do we? Could you define patience if you were asked? And, to make things more tricky, could you do so without simply citing examples of patience? Starting with the basic definition of patience as "waiting without complaint,"' we will address some key questions. Why is patience a virtue? What are the different varieties of patience? Why is patience so difficult at times? And how is patience developed?

http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/articles/spiritualformation/virtueofpatience.html