The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, is incentivizing its soldiers with a special bonus for re-enlisting early. They are offering four additional days off aligned with the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI in November. Commanders believe that providing extra time for soldiers to enjoy the popular video game, known for its carjackings, police shootouts, and daring heists, will encourage them to extend their military service.
Grand Theft Auto VI, set to be released on November 19, is anticipated to be a major entertainment event of the year. Take-Two Interactive, the game publisher, has received exceptional pre-order sales, described by CEO Strauss Zelnick as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
The idea to link a retention incentive to the game’s release was conceived by a career counselor within the battalion, in collaboration with commanders, to help soldiers remember their upcoming re-enlistment deadlines, according to Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart. The aim was to create a unique rewards program tailored to soldiers’ interests.
Soldiers who re-enlist by November 14 will be granted a special four-day pass, as outlined in a memo from battalion commanders. At least 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have already taken advantage of this bonus offer by committing to serve an additional two years in uniform.
Anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI has been building since 2023, especially after the release of its first cinematic trailer showcasing a return to the fictional Vice City, a satire of Miami, and new Florida-based locations featuring gator-filled swamps. Rockstar Games, the developer, plans to showcase gameplay in an extended trailer on Netflix, following a leak of apparent footage by hackers this week.