A U.S. military unit is incentivizing its soldiers with a special bonus for re-enlistment: an extra four days off coinciding with the release of the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI in November.
Leaders of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, believe that providing time for soldiers to enjoy the newest installment of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, known for its car thefts, police confrontations, and daring heists, will encourage them to extend their service in the military.
The forthcoming launch of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 is anticipated to be a major entertainment event of the year. Take-Two Interactive, the game’s publisher, has not disclosed pre-order sales figures but CEO Strauss Zelnick described them as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
A career advisor at the army engineer battalion collaborated with commanders to link a retention incentive to the game’s release, aiming to prompt soldiers to consider their re-enlistment timelines, stated Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart.
“The concept was to create a distinct rewards scheme that aligns with soldiers’ interests,” Tomko mentioned in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday.
In a memo to troops, battalion leaders outlined that individuals who commit to re-enlistment contracts before November 14 would be granted “a special four-day leave.”
“This exclusive leave is purposely scheduled to coincide with the highly awaited launch of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI,” noted battalion commander Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson.
Tomko verified the legitimacy of the memo dated July 28, which was captured in a photograph and circulated online.
She indicated that out of 130 eligible soldiers, at least 20 have enrolled for the bonus. Eligibility requires a commitment to serve for a minimum of two additional years in uniform.
Excitement surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI has been mounting since 2023 when its initial cinematic trailer teased a return to the fictional Vice City, a satirical resemblance of Miami, alongside an extended range of Florida-based settings, including alligator-infested marshes.
Highlighting the anticipation, developer Rockstar Games plans to unveil gameplay footage next week in an extensive trailer on Netflix. The planned release was disrupted when hackers leaked purported footage online earlier this week.
