Are you a Platoon Sergeant struggling to deal with a pesky young lieutenant? Do you need new ways to say "up yours" while still remaining superficially professional?

Every day, Staff NCOs just like you strive to find dubiously respectful methods to remind butter bars that they have no idea what they're talking about. Here are some tips to keep lieutenants powerless while still letting them think that they're in charge.

#1 - The Empty Compliment

Lieutenants don't often get compliments, because, let's face it, they don't often do things worth complimenting. Therefore, if you compliment them in front of others, they will be indebted to you no matter how meaningless the praise. You won't even lose face because every one except them knows you're kidding!

"Hey Sir, your platoon looked good out at the range!" It doesn't matter whether they looked good or not, or even if they went to the range at all.

#2 - The Stare Down

Like dogs, lieutenants can't look you in the eye for more than a few seconds. If they disagree with you, just hold eye contact for five to 10 seconds and they will back down.

#3 - "In My Experience..."