US Army battalion giving soldiers 4 days off to play 'Grand Theft Auto VI' if they reenlist

A United States Army battalion is reportedly authorising four days off to let soldiers play "Grand Theft Auto VI” during its launch in November 2026 if they reenlist.

In a Facebook post, the memorandum was purportedly directed to active-duty enlisted soldiers assigned to or attached to the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion who are eligible for reenlistment.

The memorandum was reportedly dated Jul. 28.

Soldiers who signed a reenlistment contract between Aug. 1 and Nov. 14 will apparently be granted a “special” four-day pass.

The pass is eligible from Nov. 20 to 23.

“This special pass is specifically designated to coincide with the highly anticipated release of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6),” the memorandum read.

Its purpose was to supposedly “promote retention, boost morale, and reward the continued dedication” of the soldiers within that battalion.

According to Kotaku, the memorandum was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Ryan D. Hodgson, who took over command of the battalion in July 2026.

Soldiers apparently pointed out details of the memorandum online, including the commander’s name, the communication numbers included, its formatting, and other details.

The memorandum's authenticity remains unclear.