Can I decline being promoted to Corporal?

I feel your pain OP. Previous generations of workhorses that undervalued themselves and came from fatherless homes will try to shame you.

The compensation and duties need to match we are in 2023 not 1972.

Retention will continue to plummet as this bs continues.

You can be in jeperdy for hitting your RCP (retention control point) based on not making the next rank in time.

I would have loved to be a Corporal instead of a SPC4. Pay or no Pay !!!! I see how the generations have changed since I was in. WAA WAA WAA !!! Man up Dude!!!!

As I see you've since been promoted to SGT I'm hoping that you've accepted that sometimes you have to do more that what you're being paid for. I'm sure by now you're doing the stuff that SSG's and SFC's do. Good luck.

Todays Army

If I was in your chain of command: yes, I would let you decline it, but would also do my best to see that you didn't get promoted to SGT.

Why would your leadership sent you to something like Ranger school of you don’t want to take on leadership role

The new Army, got to love it. I can’t believe someone would actually ask this question. If I were the 1SG you wouldn’t get the TL spot and you would for along while, this is just crazy

I would take any promotion to get Advancement. I was always held back because of job or current slot in the National Guard. Being in a Support or mot support role to the Ranger or Special Forces Group.

Let me tell you I griped about becoming an NCO before I did it. But it took me getting the stripes to figure out I was already doing the SGT shit as a SPC. The only difference was, I got an NCOER that said I did it. As a SPC you're lucky to get a counseling saying you did anything at all, much less anything good.

Point being, if there's something to be done, go do it. Yeah the pay is nice, but Army doesn't promote based on skill, they promote on potential. Show them you have that potential and you'll go far.

And if you're going to ranger school, take your damn promotion to CPL and shut up. What i would have done for my unit to send me like i asked. You'll pick up your 5 fast.