A special incentive is being offered by a U.S. army unit to encourage troops to re-enlist promptly: an additional four days off coinciding with the launch of the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI in November. The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, believes that providing soldiers with leisure time to enjoy the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series, known for its action-packed gameplay involving carjackings, police shootouts, and daring heists, will influence some personnel to extend their military service.
The release of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 is anticipated to be a major entertainment event of the year. Although pre-order sales figures have not been disclosed by game publisher Take-Two Interactive, CEO Strauss Zelnick described them as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
According to Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart, a career counselor within the army engineer battalion proposed the idea of linking a retention incentive to the game’s release to help soldiers remember their re-enlistment deadlines. Tomko stated that the aim was to introduce a unique rewards program that aligns with soldiers’ interests.
In a memo issued to troops, battalion commanders outlined that individuals who commit to re-enlistment contracts by November 14 will be granted “a special four-day pass.” This pass is specifically timed to coincide with the highly awaited launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, as stated by battalion commander Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson.
Tomko verified the legitimacy of the memo dated July 28, which was shared online after being photographed. She mentioned that, out of 130 eligible soldiers, at least 20 have enrolled for the bonus offer, subject to a commitment of serving a minimum of two additional years in uniform.
Anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI has been escalating since 2023 when its initial cinematic trailer teased a return to the fictional Vice City, a satirical representation of Miami, along with an expanded range of Florida-based settings, including alligator-infested swamplands. Emphasizing the excitement, developer Rockstar Games is scheduled to unveil gameplay footage next week in an extended trailer on Netflix. This plan was accelerated after hackers leaked what seemed to be game footage online earlier this week.