A special bonus is being offered by a U.S. army unit to encourage its soldiers to re-enlist promptly. The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., is granting troops four additional days off aligned with the release of the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI in November.
The battalion’s commanders believe that providing soldiers with extra leisure time to enjoy the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series, known for its carjackings, police shootouts, and daring heists, will influence some personnel to extend their military service commitments.
Scheduled for release on November 19, Grand Theft Auto VI is anticipated to be a significant entertainment event of the year. While specific pre-order sales figures have not been disclosed by the game publisher Take-Two Interactive, CEO Strauss Zelnick described the numbers as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
A creative initiative was developed by a career counselor in collaboration with battalion commanders at Fort Stewart to link a retention incentive with the launch of the game, aiming to prompt soldiers to consider their upcoming re-enlistment deadlines, as per Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart.
The strategy, according to Tomko’s statement to The Associated Press on Thursday, was to introduce a distinctive incentives program tailored to soldiers’ interests.
Soldiers who commit to re-enlistment contracts before November 14 will be rewarded with “a special four-day pass,” as outlined in a memo sent by battalion commanders to the troops. The pass is strategically timed to coincide with the debut of Grand Theft Auto VI, announced Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson, the battalion commander.
The authenticity of the memo dated July 28, which was shared online after being photographed, was verified by Tomko. To be eligible for the bonus, soldiers must agree to serve a minimum of two additional years in uniform.
Excitement surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI has been escalating since 2023, with 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-infested swamps.
Developer Rockstar Games intends to unveil gameplay footage next week through an extended trailer on Netflix, following an online leak of apparent footage by hackers earlier this week.