The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, is enticing its soldiers with a unique incentive to re-enlist promptly – a bonus of four additional days off coinciding with the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI in November. Commanders believe that granting troops leisure time to enjoy the latest installment of the popular video game series will influence some servicemembers to extend their military contracts.
The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 is anticipated to be a significant entertainment event of the year. Take-Two Interactive, the game’s publisher, has not disclosed pre-order sales figures, but CEO Strauss Zelnick has described them as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
The concept of linking a retention benefit to the release of the game was conceived by a career counselor within the army engineer battalion, in collaboration with unit commanders, to serve as a reminder to soldiers of their approaching re-enlistment deadlines, according to Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart.
The battalion’s memo to soldiers outlined that those who commit to re-enlistment by November 14 will be rewarded with a “special four-day pass” tailored to coincide with the highly awaited launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, as articulated by battalion commander Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson.
Tomko verified the legitimacy of the memo dated July 28, which was captured in a photograph and shared online. She disclosed that to date, approximately 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have opted for the bonus offer, contingent on agreeing to serve a minimum of an additional two years in uniform.
Excitement for Grand Theft Auto VI has been mounting since 2023, especially following the release of its initial cinematic trailer showcasing a return to the fictional Vice City, a satirical mimic of Miami, along with an expanded range of Florida-based settings, including alligator-infested swamplands.
Adding to the anticipation, Rockstar Games, the developer, intends to unveil gameplay footage in an extended Netflix trailer next week. However, this plan was disrupted after hackers leaked apparent game footage online earlier this week.