Can I decline being promoted to Corporal?

This is where you learn and practice leadership. If you don’t want that, you need to get your 214 instead.

Pathetic. You're in for the wrong reason.

SPC Josh Harrison 2-263 ADA, 263rd AAMDC, USARNORTH
"Can I decline being promoted to Corporal?"
" I dont want to take responsibility as a team leader and still get paid as a SPC."
I wonder what your DIV BDE, BN, Co commanders, Senior NCOs, and RTB cadre would think about those statements?

When I was in, Corporals were RARE, especially in the MP Corps. I only saw a few and they were all Infantry type units. THEN, since Corporals were rare, they were looked upon with some awe and a bit more respect than a mere SP4 (what today is just SPC). I don't know if that's as much the case today but it doesn't matter.
If you (can) decline the promotion, you'd really be shooting youerself in the foot, so to say. If they want to make you a Corporal, it's because they want to give you more responsibility, AND probably think you can handle it. Slapping "whoever" in the face to decline it, wouldn't be much more harmful to your career. In otherwords, TAKE IT.

Besides liking your last name I don't see you getting anymore pay for a lateral promotion, so take it but only if you feel that you can and lead soldiers with integrity.

Dude don’t be a turd! Take charge and carry out the plan of the day.

Then just get out of the service once your contract is up. You need the service more than the service needs you. But, you better check yourself before going to Ranger School. That kind of attitude is not taken too kindly. And don't be surprised if word about this gets to your leadership, especially considering you've listed your unit on here. Somebody on RallyPoint know someone high up in your unit.

It sounds to me like someone in your upper echelon wanted to find out if you had what it takes to become a leader and help you advance. Now if you turn it down, what do you think they are going to think about that? During my time I knew of only one guy that didn't want to be promoted, every time he came up he'd have it just along enough to get busted back down. He was a cook with 22 years in the service and made the best damn food in South Vietnam in '68-'69 and was still a private.

You don't want to be a leader unless you are an E5? That is the most ridiculous and selfish thing I have read. I was a Fire Team Leader as a LCpl and a Heavy Machine gunner Vehicle Commander as a Cpl. Not once did I imagine declining the position because of my paycheck. Either you want the job or you don't. You don't get to set terms. You need to look in the mirror and have a conversation with the guy looking at you and figure out your goals.

SGT (Join to see) Never pass up a promotion and the chance to hone your leadership skills. As mentioned by SGM (Join to see), the civilian world will also have you take on additional responsibility before any pay increase.