US Army offers soldiers 4 days off for GTA 6 launch — but only if they re-enlist

The U.S. Army is reportedly trying to retain soldiers with an unusual perk: four days of special leave around the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. The offer allegedly comes from the 9th Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, according to a memo circulating online. The document was first spotted by the Facebook page "US Army WTF! Moments."

The memo is said to be signed by Lieutenant Colonel Ryan D. Hodgson, the battalion's commanding officer who recently took command. This makes the document at least plausible, but it has not been officially confirmed. It remains unclear whether the memo is genuine or a well-crafted joke.

The catch for soldiers is that the four-day leave is tied to re-enlistment — they must commit to another term of service. Despite the novelty of tying time off to a video game release, the Reddit community largely dismissed the offer as unremarkable. The top comment noted that a four-day break (Friday/Monday off) for re-enlisting is standard practice across many units. Command teams have broad discretion over re-enlistment incentives, and this battalion is simply marketing the perk in a fun way.

A veteran combat engineer added that such incentives are common, and battalion commanders have wide latitude to choose them. So the story is more about creative marketing than an exclusive privilege. The GTA 6 launch, expected in fall 2025, is one of the most anticipated gaming events, and the Army seems to be leveraging that to boost retention. Whether the memo is real or not, it highlights how the military adapts to pop culture to engage younger soldiers.