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4h ago

Army Battalion Offers Four Days Off to Reenlisters Timed to GTA VI Release

A battalion initiative uses a pop‑culture perk to boost reenlistment among younger soldiers and draws scrutiny over its ethics and effectiveness.

FILE - A sign stands outside the main gate of Fort Stewart, Ga., Aug. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum, File)
From the Army to small businesses: organizations are getting ahead of the GTA VI launch curve—and giving days off to steal virtual cars.
AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 01: A U.S. Army flag flies during the NASCAR Cup Series DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix on March 1, 2026, at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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)

Overview

  • A July 28 memo signed by Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson authorizes a special four‑day pass for members of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion who sign reenlistment contracts in the unit’s window.
  • Eligible soldiers must reenlist for a minimum of two years and can extend up to six years to qualify for the pass which requires contracts to be signed between August 1 and November 14.
  • The perk was proposed by a battalion career counselor and confirmed as a unit‑level retention tool by 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson Lt. Col. Angel Tomko.
  • About 20 of roughly 130 eligible soldiers had chosen the GTA VI pass by mid‑August, showing early uptake but limiting the program’s reach to a single battalion.
  • The offer is tied to the high‑profile November 19 release of Grand Theft Auto VI and highlights the Army’s broader use of gaming culture for recruitment and retention while prompting public debate over the optics and value of such incentives.