A US Army battalion is offering soldiers a four-day pass timed to the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 if they reenlist for at least two years.
The "Special Reenlistment Incentive" memo, dated July 28, surfaced through the US Army WTF! Moments account on Instagram and was confirmed to PC Gamer by the Army. It states that "any soldier who signs a reenlistment contract between 1 August 2026 and 14 November 2026 will be authorized for a special four day pass. This special pass is specifically designated to coincide with the highly anticipated release of the videogame Grand Theft Auto 6."
Lt. Col. Angel Tomko told PC Gamer the offer is not Army-wide but specific to the 3rd Infantry Division, of which the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion is a part, and that it came from the battalion's new career counsellor.
The idea was to have a unique incentives program that connects to what soldiers are interested in. The command team, in conjunction with the career counselor, wanted to get soldiers excited to reenlist.
Eligible soldiers must reenlist for a minimum of two years and can sign for up to six. Tomko said 130 soldiers in the battalion are eligible for the incentive and 20 have taken it so far, and that the response among soldiers has been extremely positive.
Layered on top of standard incentives
Tomko framed the pass as routine retention practice rather than a recruiting gimmick, noting that every soldier eligible 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. Soldiers who reenlist often have multiple incentive options depending on their Military Occupational Specialty, service needs, and eligibility, and range from time off, to money or duty location of choice. This specific incentive is for all soldiers in 9th Engineer Battalion and is an administrative bonus layered on top of standard reenlistment incentives.
PC Gamer reported that reaction on social media was less warm, with some finding the use of a popular videogame to keep the ranks filled distasteful — four days off in exchange for a two-year commitment. Tomko said the attention has not changed the programme's purpose, which Tomko described as rewarding dedicated soldiers for service to their nation.
The US military has leaned on games before. The America's Army shooter series debuted in 2002, the Army launched its own esports team in 2018 under its Marketing and Engagement Brigade at Fort Knox, and it started a Twitch channel for game streams in 2020. Grand Theft Auto 6 launches on November 19, 2026.