The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, is incentivizing soldiers to re-enlist by offering them a special bonus of four additional days off coinciding with the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI in November. Commanders believe that providing troops with extra leisure time to enjoy the highly anticipated video game will encourage them to extend their military service commitments. The release of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 is anticipated to be a major entertainment event of the year, with pre-order sales described by Take-Two Interactive’s CEO as unprecedented.
A career counselor within the battalion collaborated with leaders to connect a retention incentive to the game’s release date, aiming to remind soldiers of their upcoming re-enlistment deadlines. Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart, highlighted that the unique incentives program was designed to align with soldiers’ interests.
Soldiers who agree to re-enlistment terms by November 14 will be awarded a special four-day pass, as stated in a memo issued by battalion commanders. This pass is specifically timed to coincide with the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, as noted by battalion commander Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson. Approximately 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have already signed up for the bonus, committing to a minimum of two additional years of service.
Anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI has been mounting since 2023, particularly after the release of its initial cinematic trailer showcasing a return to the fictional Vice City and expanded Florida-based settings. Developer Rockstar Games plans to unveil gameplay footage next week through an extended trailer on Netflix, following an online leak of apparent gameplay content by hackers.