A U.S. Army unit is offering soldiers four bonus days off upon reenlistment, specifically timed to coincide with the November release of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI. The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, hopes this unique incentive will encourage troops to extend their military commitments.
The idea for the retention perk came from a career counselor within the battalion, who collaborated with commanders to link reenlistment dates to the anticipated release. "The idea was to have a unique incentives program that connects to what soldiers are interested in," Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a Fort Stewart spokesperson, stated.
According to a memo written by battalion commander Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson, soldiers who sign reenlistment contracts by November 14 will receive "a special 4 day pass." This pass is explicitly designed to align with the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, scheduled for November 19. Tomko confirmed the memo's authenticity and noted that at least 20 of the 130 eligible soldiers have already signed up for the bonus. To qualify, soldiers must commit to serving at least two additional years.
Grand Theft Auto VI has generated significant anticipation since its first trailer debuted in 2023, showcasing a return to the series' fictional Vice City and surrounding Florida locales. Developer Rockstar Games plans to release an extended gameplay trailer on Netflix next week, following an earlier leak of apparent footage online. The game publisher, Take-Two Interactive, has described pre-order interest as "unprecedented and astonishing."