Can I resign as a Corporal?

If you are not being given the respect that goes with the rank, you should speak to the 1SG. If your unit saw the potential, and you are subsequently producing they should give you that respect. Are you earning that respect?

Have you separated yourself from the junior Soldiers, do you disseminate orders and guidance in a manner that earns you the respect of being and NCO? Are you still carrying yourself in the manner for which you were selected to be a Cpl. while I agree. That it can be thankless, it does not have to be. Lateral or not, you are an NCO.

Much like the 1SG, you were selected amongst your peers to lead Soldiers. This indicates that your 1SG has what it takes to lead Soldier over other unit E8’s, and you stringer than the other E4’s. Let the leaders that selected you guide you through this. Thank you for your service.

The process is to get promoted.
Corporal is definitely a thankless rank. I was one in the National Guard and when it was offered to me on Active Duty I turned it down. In my unit being a corporal meant you were treated like a specialist until there was a detail that required an NCO.

CPL is just a lateral promotion, like a 1SG. It can be bestowed or revoked by the commander at any time.

You can ask, but it will be up to your Commander. You state you are an NCO but feel you aren't being treated as an NCO.....WELCOME TO REAL ARMY LIFE!!!!! Well....resigning.....that's going to be between you and your Chain. It was your dream to be a Corporal. Why just Coporal? Why just dream of that rank? Why not dream of SFC...or MSG...or even CSM? You are an NCO. IMHO, if the NCO is the backbone of the Army, then the Corporal is the backbone of the NCO Corps. Are you saying you can't handle being a Corporal? Are you saying you can't handle being an NCO? If you can't handle CPL, then you can't handle being SGT....or SSG...or SFC. Shit...you're basically saying you can't handle being in the Army. You think it's going to get easier the higher in rank you go? Reality check. It gets harder. If you can't hack it, then GTFO. I'm not going to sugarcoat scheisse for you. Suit up and Ruck up. Did you really think it was going to be all pink roses and fine coffee? Smell the morning, CPL. There will be times where your unit will treat you like shit but still expect you to do your job. Then there are times where your unit will treat you like gold for not even doing a goddamn thing. FFS, you're the OPS NCO. Do your job to the best of your ability. If you can walk out at the end of the day knowing you did your best and no one can f*ck with you, then you win the game. But...if you are needing validation at the end of the day every day just for being a CPL...then GTFO. You are an NCO. Start acting like one. We, as NCOs, don't do what we do for constant daily praise. We do this to ensure our Soldiers come home. THAT is our mission. THAT is our goal. You want to resign, then simply walk into the office of your Commander and rip that rank off your chest and tell them the truth that you can't hack it. Someone at some point thought that you could handle it. Prove them right. If you can't, then move out and make room for someone who can. Don't like what I said? Too friggin bad. What I said is just one more reality check for you. And the check always gets cashed....and the bill always comes due.