The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, is incentivizing soldiers to re-enlist by offering them a special bonus of four extra days off coinciding with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November. This move is aimed at encouraging troops to extend their military service commitments.
Game publisher Take-Two Interactive anticipates the release of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 to be a significant entertainment event of the year. While specific pre-order sales figures have not been disclosed, CEO Strauss Zelnick described the numbers as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
The concept of linking a retention incentive to the release of Grand Theft Auto VI was developed by a career counselor in collaboration with battalion commanders at Fort Stewart. Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart, mentioned that the purpose was to create a unique rewards program aligned with soldiers’ interests.
Soldiers who re-enlist by November 14 will be granted a special four-day pass, as outlined in a memo from battalion commander Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson. The authenticity of the memo, dated July 28, has been verified by Tomko, who also confirmed that at least 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have already taken advantage of the bonus offer by committing to an additional two years of service.
Anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI has been steadily growing since 2023, particularly following the release of its initial cinematic trailer showcasing a return to the fictional Vice City and an expanded array of Florida-based settings, including gator-filled swamps. Rockstar Games, the developer, plans to unveil gameplay footage in an extended trailer on Netflix, although this was expedited due to leaked footage circulating online this week.