GTA 6 Incentive Offers Soldiers a 4-Day Pass
Grand Theft Auto 6 is shaping up to be one of the biggest video game launches in history. A memo reportedly from an Army base in Georgia appears to offer soldiers time off to play the game at launch if they re-enlist before a set date.
On August 17, the Facebook/Instagram page “USA Army WTF!? Moments” shared a photo of a memo offering a four‑day pass to play GTA 6 as a re‑enlistment incentive to soldiers of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion. The image was quickly posted in the Grand Theft Auto subreddit and spread from there. The memo, addressed to “All Personnel, 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion (9th BEB)” with the subject “Special Reenlistment Incentive – Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) 4-Day Pass,” outlines the details.
The four‑day pass, valid from November 20‑23, aims to “establish a special re‑enlistment incentive program to promote retention, boost morale, and reward the continued dedication of the Soldiers within the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion.” Only active‑duty enlisted soldiers assigned or attached to the 9th BEB are eligible, and the program is not Army‑wide.
According to the memo, any soldier who signs a re‑enlistment contract between August 1, 2026 and November 14, 2026 will receive the pass, which is coordinated with the game’s official release date of November 19, 2026, and the pass dates will be arranged between the soldier and their chain of command.
The memo was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Hodgson, who assumed command of the 9BEB in July 2026.
we verified the memo’s authenticity, but many details—including the commander’s name, communication numbers, formatting, and observations from enlisted soldiers on Reddit—appear credible. While it could be a prank, such an elaborate hoax would be unusual. In the past, soldiers online have talked about how Army commanders sometimes use creative incentives to meet re‑enlistment targets, and many were not surprised to see GTA 6 used as a motivator.
we contacted the Army and Fort Stewart for clarification and reached out to the original sharers of the memo. As the November 19 launch approaches, workplaces, government facilities, and other institutions are likely to see a surge in “sick days” or will leverage the game to attract employees and recruits.
