An Army unit in the U.S. is enticing its personnel with a unique bonus—four extra days off if they decide to reenlist soon. This offer is strategically timed with the November launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.
Commanders from the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, believe that allowing soldiers some downtime to engage with the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series—where players engage in car thefts, gun battles with police, and elaborate heists—might encourage them to extend their service.
Scheduled for release on November 19, Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to be a major entertainment highlight of the year. Although game publisher Take-Two Interactive hasn’t disclosed preorder figures, CEO Strauss Zelnick recently referred to them as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
A career counselor in the Army engineer battalion came up with the idea, collaborating with commanders to create this incentive linked to the game’s release. According to Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson from Fort Stewart, it serves as a reminder for soldiers about their upcoming reenlistment dates.
“The aim was to provide a distinctive incentives program that resonates with soldier interests,” Tomko stated in a recent communication.
In a memo, battalion leaders informed soldiers that those who sign reenlistment contracts by November 14 would be awarded “a special 4 day pass.”
“This special pass is specifically designed to coincide with the highly anticipated release of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI,” wrote battalion commander Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson.
Tomko has verified that the memo, which gained attention online, is legitimate. Currently, at least 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have chosen to take advantage of this bonus, but they must agree to serve an additional two years in the military.
The excitement surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI has been building since 2023 when its first cinematic trailer suggested a return to the franchise’s fictional Vice City—an exaggerated version of Miami—and showcased an expanded range of Florida locales, including swampy areas teeming with alligators.
As excitement grows, developer Rockstar Games is set to release gameplay videos next week through an extended trailer on Netflix. This comes after hackers recently leaked what seems to be footage of the game online.
