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A US Army battalion at Fort Stewart is offering soldiers four extra days off if they reenlist before the GTA VI launch. The incentive ties military retention efforts to a major pop culture release as anticipation for the game surges.
Under a memo issued by battalion commander soldiers who sign reenlistment contracts by November 14 will receive "a special 4 day pass". (Representative Image: Reuters)
UPDATED: Aug 21, 2026 00:30 IST
Want to play Grand Theft Auto VI without worrying about work? The US Army may have an unusual incentive for you. A US Army unit at Fort Stewart, Georgia, is offering soldiers four extra days off if they reenlist by a specific deadline, with the leave timed to coincide with the highly anticipated release of GTA VI.
According to the Associated Press, the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion is hoping the gaming perk will encourage eligible soldiers to extend their military service. The game, developed by Rockstar Games, is set to hit screens on November 19 in what is expected to be one of the biggest entertainment launches of the year. The incentive was proposed by a career counsellor and developed with battalion commanders as a way to encourage soldiers to make decisions about their upcoming reenlistment deadlines.
Fort Stewart spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Angel Tomko, said the idea was designed around soldiers' interests. "The idea was to have a unique incentives program that connects to what soldiers are interested in," Tomko said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Under a memo issued by battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Hodgson, soldiers who sign reenlistment contracts by November 14 will receive "a special 4 day pass".
"This special pass is specifically designed to coincide with the highly anticipated release of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI," Hodgson wrote.
Tomko confirmed the authenticity of the July 28 memo, which was photographed and posted online. At least 20 of the 130 soldiers eligible for the offer have already signed up, Tomko said. To qualify, soldiers must agree to serve for at least another two years.
GTA VI FEVER BUILDS
Excitement over GTA VI is reaching fever pitch. The game will take players back to the fictional Vice City, Rockstar's satirical take on Miami, while expanding its map to include more Florida-inspired locations, including alligator-filled swamps. The first cinematic trailer, released in 2023, sent anticipation soaring and gave fans their first glimpse of the game's world, characters and setting.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick recently described preorder demand as "unprecedented and astonishing", although the publisher has not released actual preorder figures.
Rockstar Games is also preparing to unveil more gameplay footage, with an extended trailer planned for release on Netflix next week. The rollout has already been disrupted by an apparent leak, after hackers posted footage online earlier this week.
- Ends
With inputs from agencies
Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Aug 21, 2026 00:30 IST
