Grand Theft Auto VI Appears in a Very Unusual U.S. Army Reenlistment Perk
A 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion memo says eligible soldiers can request a four-day pass from November 20 through 23, 2026, after qualifying reenlistments.

Grand Theft Auto VI has somehow found its way into a U.S. Army reenlistment incentive. A memo image shared in a Reddit post from the GTA 6 community appears to show a special pass offer for soldiers assigned or attached to the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion.
The document is dated July 28, 2026, and is signed by Lt. Col. Ryan D. Hodgson. According to the memo, active-duty enlisted soldiers who sign reenlistment contracts between August 1 and November 14, 2026, can qualify for a four-day pass scheduled for November 20 through 23.
That window begins one day after Grand Theft Auto VI’s planned November 19 launch. Take-Two has continued to target the game’s November 19 release date, giving the offer some remarkably specific timing.
The pass still requires command approval
This is not automatic leave. Eligible soldiers must submit an absence request through the Integrated Personnel and Pay System–Army, or IPPS-A, and their company commander must approve it. The battalion career counselor will track qualifying reenlistments and provide eligible soldiers’ names to company leadership.
The memo also includes several restrictions. The four-day pass cannot be combined with another pass to create an absence longer than four consecutive days. Soldiers flagged for adverse action, or those who do not meet Army body composition or physical fitness standards when they submit the request, are not eligible.
The incentive is presented as a way to support retention, morale, and the continued dedication of soldiers in the 9th BEB. Nothing in the document indicates that the offer applies across the entire Army; its eligibility language is limited to active-duty enlisted soldiers assigned or attached to that battalion.
Still, seeing a major game release appear in a reenlistment memo is a pretty wild bit of timing. The four-day window is scheduled for the first weekend after Grand Theft Auto VI reaches players, assuming the current launch plan remains in place.
Would a four-day pass be enough to influence your reenlistment decision? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
Grand Theft Auto VI
Developed by Rockstar Games






