A unit of the U.S. Army is providing an incentive for soldiers to re-enlist by offering them an extra four days off coinciding with the launch of the highly anticipated video game, Grand Theft Auto VI. The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, aims to entice troops to extend their military service by granting them leisure time to enjoy the latest installment in the popular Grand Theft Auto series, known for its carjackings, police shootouts, and daring heists.
Scheduled for release on November 19, Grand Theft Auto VI is anticipated to be a major entertainment event of the year. While pre-order sales figures have not been disclosed by game publisher Take-Two Interactive, CEO Strauss Zelnick described them as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
The initiative to link a retention benefit to the game’s launch was conceived by a career counselor within the army engineer battalion in collaboration with commanding officers to prompt soldiers to consider their re-enlistment timelines, according to Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart. Lt. Col. Tomko stated that the concept was developed to offer a distinctive incentives program tailored to soldiers’ interests.
In a memo circulated to troops, battalion leaders outlined that individuals who finalize re-enlistment agreements by November 14 will be rewarded with a “special four-day pass” aligned with the debut of Grand Theft Auto VI. The memo, dated July 28, was confirmed as genuine by Tomko, who noted that out of 130 eligible soldiers, approximately 20 have already enrolled for the bonus, contingent on committing to an additional two years of service.
Excitement surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI has been mounting since 2023, especially following the release of its initial cinematic trailer signaling a return to the fictional Vice City, a satirical representation of Miami, alongside an extended array of Florida-based settings featuring gator-filled swamps. Adding to the anticipation, developer Rockstar Games intends to unveil gameplay footage in an extended trailer on Netflix soon, although this plan was expedited due to leaked content surfacing online earlier than expected.
