The leadership of the U.S. Army’s 9th Combat Engineer Battalion, stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, decided to use the global popularity of Grand Theft Auto VI as an unusual incentive to continue serving. A document has appeared on social networks, according to which soldiers will receive four days of special leave in exchange for re-signing their contracts.
According to the text of the notice signed by Commander Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson, conscripts or contract service members who enter into new agreements between August 1 and November 14, 2026 will receive guaranteed leave from November 20 to 23. These dates are directly tied to the game’s official release on November 19, 2026, and are intended to boost personnel morale.
Although Army Command has not officially confirmed the authenticity of the document, Reddit users and active-duty military personnel noted that the details are very accurate, including the commander’s real name and the correct execution of Army forms. Initiatives like this are a perfect example of what a massive cultural event Rockstar’s long-awaited fall release is shaping up to be.
