In the military it was easier. Being either a flight leader or section leader made it even easier because I could write them up to have them thrown out of flight school if they pushed me enough. A couple of bozos tried it. Rank didn't matter because they were students, and students were assumed to know hardly anything. Students never won a battle against the instructor pilots. The kiss of death for any student was to downgrade them on either aptitude or attitude.

I've been around a few of those types at the flying field. I usually say something once or twice, and then walk away from it if they don't listen when they asked for help. When it comes to the dangerous stuff, being a club officer helps.

The worst one I ran across was a student who had his license as a balloon pilot. Every single instructor was chomping at the bit to get him so they would document his demise. I took him myself, and just let him have all the rope he needed. He just kept on self destructing until it was too late. He was pretty much untrainable due to his superiority complex.