Army Battalion Offers 4-Day Pass for GTA VI Reenlistment

A U.S. Army unit at Fort Stewart, Georgia, is offering active-duty soldiers an unusual reenlistment incentive: a four-day pass timed to the release of the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI. The offer from the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion requires soldiers to commit to at least two more years of service in exchange for time off to play the game when it launches on November 19, 2026.

According to a memo from the unit dated July 28, 2026, and confirmed by Army officials, soldiers who sign reenlistment contracts between August 1 and November 14, 2026, are eligible for the special pass. The exact dates for the leave will be coordinated between each soldier and their chain of command to align with the game's release. As of reports, 20 of the battalion's 130 eligible soldiers have already chosen this incentive as part of their reenlistment agreement, which can range from two to six years.

The initiative originated with a career counselor in the battalion as a creative way to boost retention. "The idea was to have a unique incentives program that connects to what soldiers are interested in," said Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, spokesperson for the 3rd Infantry Division, which...