Soldiers who re-enlist for at least two years will receive four days to play Grand Theft Auto VI, which is set to be released on November 19 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series.

The U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has confirmed that it will grant soldiers who reenlist for at least two years four days of leave in November so they can play Grand Theft Auto VI. The memo, titled “Special Re-enlistment Incentive,” was dated July 28 and appeared on the U.S. Army’s WTF! Moments Instagram account. It states that any soldier who signs a reenlistment contract between August 1 and November 14 will be eligible for the special leave. This leave is specifically timed to coincide with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DcIc_PVjQjV/

Lieutenant Colonel Angel Tomko told PC Gamer that the goal was to create a unique incentive program that aligns with soldiers’ interests. In collaboration with the career counseling advisor, the command team sought to motivate soldiers to reenlist. They believe that eligible soldiers are more aware that it is time to reenlist and are reaching out to their leadership and the career counselor earlier to learn about the available options. The battalion has a new career counselor who approached the leadership with an idea for an updated, creative incentive program to meet the reenlistment goals set for fiscal year 2027. Eligible soldiers must reenlist for a minimum of two years and a maximum of six.

Tomko explained that the offer for Grand Theft Auto VI does not apply to the entire army. Rather, it is limited exclusively to the 3rd Infantry Division, including the 9th Brigade’s engineering company. The program appears to be quite successful. According to Tomko, 130 soldiers in the company are eligible for the incentive, and 20 have chosen it so far. While this may be novel, it is not unusual. Reenlistment incentives are common in the U.S. Army to reward soldiers. The Army wants to retain its most talented soldiers, and it was thanks to the creativity of a career counselor within the organization that this unique opportunity was devised in connection with the release of the popular game.

Judging by the reactions to the news on social media, it’s safe to say that some people find the idea of using a popular game to maintain troop levels a bit tacky. In fact, it might seem downright exploitative. At the same time, of the 20 people who took advantage of the offer, it’s likely that at least a few were planning to renew their contracts anyway and simply chose the Grand Theft Auto VI subscription because—why not? According to Tomko, the incentive program received an extremely positive response from the soldiers.

“The heightened interest in the press does not change the purpose of the program: to reward dedicated soldiers for their service to their nation.” Every soldier who is eligible for this program is already serving, already trained, and already fully qualified. Reenlistment incentives are a longstanding part of Army retention, and units often tailor them to their formations in ways that build morale and spark early conversations about career options. Depending on their Military Occupational Specialty, service needs, and eligibility, soldiers who reenlist often have multiple incentive options, ranging from time off to money to duty location of choice. This specific incentive is for all soldiers in the 9th Engineer Battalion and is an administrative bonus layered on top of standard reenlistment incentives,” Tomko explained.

The U.S. Army has long used video games as part of its recruitment efforts. The “America’s Army” first-person shooter series debuted in 2002, just a few months after the start of the War on Global Terrorism. In 2018, the Army launched its own esports team, which operates as part of the Marketing and Engagement Brigade at Fort Knox. In 2020, the Army launched its Twitch channel to stream games. The Army’s esports organization remains active and continues to stream games.

Source: PCGamer, ABC