Can I decline being promoted to Corporal?

If you're in it for the money then decline and get back in line, which shows everybody what kind of person and leader you are or you will be. We are all expendable, grab the opportunity and separate yourself from the rest, put your back-bone in it, or there will be another young motivated Soldier, next in-line to do so!

With that said......

Your BLC school date is probably close and you are not promoted to Sergeant yet.
You have to be an NCO before going to BLC, that's why your leaders want to pin Corporal on you or your PSG and schools guy will have to push back your BLC dates until after you are promoted to Sgt/E-5.

As a Corporal, you are an NCO and will be indoctrinated into the NCO Corps and will reap all the benefits as other NCOs prior to BLC and you will be ahead of the game on other NCOs at that school, as a leader, already.

"Step-up or Shut-up! Lead by example! or just get out of the way!"

You boys are spoiled I had PFC leading squads in the 101st in 72. I was an e5 acting platoon sgt. Hell I took a majors position for over a year as an e7. Your a leader or your a snuffy make up your mind.

"I don't want to take responsibility as a team leader and still get paid as a SPC."

This is your thesis and main idea. Congrats on passing the board. At this point of reading your post, unfortunately, your getting through it is irrelevant. Your statement of what you do not want outshines your accomplishment.

Simply put, you don't want to lead. You don't want to be a NCO. You want a paycheck. I hate to break it to you; but if you're going to remain in the Military for any longer, you will always be assigned duties beyond your rank.

It's an honor to be a CPL where CPLs are recognized. You do not have the requirements to promote to the next higher grade. It's a slap in the face to your leadership who saw the potential to promote but have been limited by your not meeting the requirements to be pinned. A bit self-righteous don't you think?

The fact that you wear this uniform and "I don't want" falls out of your mouth and onto an online forum shows the need for development, maturity, and less entitlement.

Perhaps it is a fail on both sides. You for not meeting requirements - of course you know you need BLC. But also, the leadership for not advising prior to the Board that you would beat CPL until you do meet the required PME.

Either way, you're still at an advantage unless your BN CSM sees this and overturns the decision to promote as someone else suggested.
The fact that the Board is completed, once you're done with BLC, you only have to update your file and wait for promotion orders.

But to not want to learn or do the job is unacceptable.

Don't be that leader. We have enough of those. Be better.

Well I am confused because your heading already says you are a Sgt unless I am missing how much has changed how are you a Sgt but you say that you have to stay a cpl/ spec are you a Sgt because the cut off score and if you are wearing Sgt stripes how are you not getting pay grade I'm so confused

Boy I don’t know I’ve never refused a promotion in my life. I was always glad to Sapphire responsibilities regardless of pay. I worked my way up to Sargent and had acted at a higher level on many occasions. Take the responsibilities that you now have been given.

SGT (Join to see) I see you have promoted to SGT. Did you complete RASP? I do not see a new beret. How is your attitude going? I hope you love and care for your soldiers better than you view the pay or position. I have been reading some of your other posts. You appear to have skipped E4? I see PFC then SGT. How did that work?

You only get so many opportunities , to many good people with potential "pass up" opportunities that often don't come around again. Back in the 70s we use to have Acting Jack Sgt that were SP4's the good ones became hard E5 , the weak ones returned to SP4

I was a Cpl. for awhile before I got my E-5 promotion and I loved it because I learned a lot of things to get me ready to take over as a squad leader. I am not positive, but I do believe new Army regs state you must be a CPL before you can be promoted to SGT. So embrace the suck as they say and think of it as a learning opportunity. Otherwise, maybe your not ready to take that leadership position after all!

This is an OLD question. I can see from the Sgt's stripes that this one found the way. Out damn standing. I hope you can look back at this question and shake your head over how "young and dumb" you were. I also hope you will have the honor to use that experience as an example when some other "young" trooper needs to un-cluster themselves. Way to go Sarge.

Sheesh, you have to show Leadership skills in order to get leadership pay. even as an sp4 in some cases, you ARE the one in a leadership position. take the step or you may find you won't get the chance again.