A United States army unit is incentivizing its soldiers to re-enlist by offering them a special bonus of four additional days off coinciding with the launch of the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI in November. The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, believes that providing time for troops to enjoy the latest installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, known for its carjackings, police shootouts, and daring heists, will encourage some servicemen to extend their military commitments.
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to be a major entertainment event upon its release on November 19, with Take-Two Interactive, the game publisher, reporting unprecedented and remarkable pre-order sales figures as described by CEO Strauss Zelnick.
The concept of linking a retention incentive to the release of the game was conceived by a career counselor within the army engineer battalion in collaboration with the unit’s leaders to help soldiers remember their upcoming re-enlistment deadlines, according to Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart. Tomko stated that the goal was to create a unique incentives program that aligns with the interests of the soldiers.
Soldiers who commit to re-enlistment by November 14 will be rewarded with a special four-day pass, as outlined in a memo from battalion commanders, including Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson. The authenticity of the memo, dated July 28, has been confirmed by Tomko, who mentioned that approximately 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have already taken advantage of the bonus offer by agreeing to serve a minimum of two additional years in the military.
Anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI has been steadily growing since 2023 when the initial cinematic trailer revealed a return to the fictional Vice City, a satirical representation of Miami, along with new Florida-based settings encompassing alligator-filled swamplands. Rockstar Games, the developer, is planning to unveil gameplay footage next week through an extended trailer on Netflix, after a premature leak of purported footage by hackers this week.