What advice would you give to a new NCO who has been having difficulties managing soldiers who have an attitude?

You need to put their asses in check. They're disrespecting you - so write them up for disrespecting a NCO. Counsel them on it every time it happens but make sure you do the follow up part on the counseling.

You better get used to using any corrective training necessary. You're a NCO - they aren't you peers. If you let people walk over you, they'll never take you seriously.

My first soldier was a cocky, disrespectful little shit. He thought he knew everything (as most 19 year olds do). Anytime he disrespected me I counseled him - and on top of his monthly counselings where I would address things. He was just constantly a problem. I definitely didn't recommend him to get promoted but for some reason when I was on R&R they sent him to the promotion board and he passed. I'm not sure how. His counseling folder was pretty thick with negative counselings and his monthly counselings.

He was this kid who I don't think like women in charge of him. If he couldn't sweet talk a woman he immediately thought she was a "bitch."

At this point in my career I'm a lot saltier than I was back then but you just can't let people walk over you. If you do, they'll never take you seriously.

Well....some times you have to put foot to ass. Hard. What is going to make this bad for you is that you have set the standard of too much niceness and too little control (as evident that you needed your SL to come in and back you up/save you).

Here is what you will need to do. It's going to be going outside your comfort zone, but it has to be done. You sit down and you give your Soldiers a counseling (should have been done already) about your firm expectations from them....to include repercussions if those expectations are not met....and what they can expect from you. Then....if they fail to meet those expectations...you apply/recommend the corrective actions/training you said you would.

You need to realize that your job is not to be popular...it's not to be liked...your job is to ensure your Soldiers get the job done right and to get them home in one piece. It's great to be popular and liked all the time but you see where that thought has gotten you? You will also need to find a seasoned NCO to have as a mentor to help mold and guide you.

Now, here is what I would have done. Considering their disrespectful manner, I would assign the corrective training of writing a 750 word essay (in pen, in print, no errors of ANY kind) discussing what Article 91 is, what repercussions a Soldier can face via UCMJ and/or Courts Martial...and how their disrespect negatively affects the morale and cohesion of the section. You give them a decent time to meet this evolution. Say...one week. You put that corrective training plan in writing in a counseling form, setting the standards and expectations of the essay. And now, you have the baseline establishment of the paper trail. Then, if they come back to you without having met the parameters, you then give them another counseling stating that they have violated Article 92 and assign another essay that covers both Articles and is now 1500 words and two weeks to do it. If they fail to meet that, you then will recommend they receive UCMJ for violation of Articles 91 and 92. Yes, I understand that this would be quite the jump....but it sends the message that you are no longer messing around. Again, this is what I would have done.

Yes, the road ahead of you is going to be bumpy and hard when trying to reestablish control. Gonna be lots of hurt feelings. Lots of counseling sessions I foresee. But you need to stick to your guns.

Listen this is fairly common whether it be Guard, Active or Reserve. Soldiers have tested NCOs since the beginning of our Army. Read and study the NCOCreed. Meaning as you read take notes, your notes should question the areas you do not fully understand as a stand alone component, or how different components relate to one another. Research the policies and associated regulations so that you are able to refer back to them when you begin to apply the traits identified in dealing with your Soldiers.

Once you have the process figured out speak to your boss and get his or her buy in for you plan of action.

This is a long, slow yet deliberate process. While getting them straight you begin to train yourself and seeking a mentorship relationship with your NCOIC.

It would be nice if you could yell at ease and it would all fall in line, well it will, but not a lasting solution.

You need to build a foundation for a Team before they and you can be a Team.

No one is not professional than I. I am a Non-Commissioned Officer.