A U.S. Army unit is providing its soldiers with a unique incentive for early re-enlistment: an additional four days off coinciding with the release of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI in November.
Leaders of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, believe that extra leisure time to enjoy the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series—where players engage in car thefts, confront police in shootouts, and execute elaborate heists—might encourage some service members to extend their military service.
The anticipated launch date for Grand Theft Auto VI is November 19, and it is projected to be one of the year’s most significant entertainment releases. Although game publisher Take-Two Interactive has not disclosed pre-order sales figures, CEO Strauss Zelnick recently described them as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
According to Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart, a career counselor from the army engineer battalion collaborated with commanders to create this retention incentive, partly to remind soldiers of their upcoming re-enlistment deadlines.
“The goal was to develop a distinctive incentives program that resonates with soldiers’ interests,” Tomko stated on Thursday in a comment to The Associated Press.
U.S. soldiers who choose to re-enlist with the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Ga., will receive bonus days off in relation to the launch of Grand Theft Auto. (Russ Bynum/The Associated Press)
In a memo directed to soldiers, battalion commanders indicated that those who finalize their re-enlistment contracts by November 14 would be awarded “a special four-day pass.”
“This special pass is specifically created to align with the eagerly awaited release of Grand Theft Auto VI,” wrote battalion commander Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson.
Tomko verified the legitimacy of the memo dated July 28, which was photographed and shared online.
She noted that at least 20 of the 130 eligible soldiers have opted for the bonus, with the requirement that they commit to at least two additional years of service.
Excitement for Grand Theft Auto VI has been building since 2023, when its initial cinematic trailer showcased a return to the fictional Vice City—a satirical version of Miami—along with a broader range of Florida-based settings, including alligator-infested swamps.
Adding to the anticipation, developer Rockstar Games is set to unveil gameplay footage next week in an extended trailer on Netflix. This rollout comes in the wake of hackers leaking apparent footage online earlier this week.