U.S. Army Confirms GTA 6 Leave Memo for Duty Extensions

The hype around Grand Theft Auto VI has reached an unexpected new corner: U.S. Army social media is buzzing over a memorandum that claims eligible service members could receive extra time off to play the upcoming Rockstar title—if they extend their active-duty contracts. The document’s authenticity has been officially confirmed, but the benefits are tightly restricted.

What the memorandum promised

The U.S. military has officially confirmed the authenticity of a memorandum describing an incentive program tied to extending service. The program is intended to grant additional days off for playing GTA 6, but it applies only to a limited group of personnel.

The memo states that the offer is limited to service members who sign a contract extension for at least two years. It also specifies that the program is not for everyone and is capped to just three units/organizations within the relevant structure.

In the confirmed text, the underlying rationale is framed as creating an incentive aligned with what service members are already motivated by. As explained by Deputy Lieutenant Colonel Angel Tomko, leadership, working with a career advisor, aimed to spark enthusiasm for staying in service by leveraging the fact that eligible personnel are within their decision window to extend contracts and would surface earlier to explore available options.

Eligibility and the contract window

The memorandum is dated July 28 and is attributed to Lieutenant Colonel Ryan D. Hodgson, identified as the commander of the 9th Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart in Georgia. That battalion is described as part of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team within the 3rd Infantry Division.

The memo’s described incentive hinges on a specific signing period: service members who agree to extend their contracts between August 1 and November 14 would receive a special four-day pass covering November 20 through November 23.

The timeline aligns with the game’s release: GTA 6 is set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19, 2026—one day before the pass period begins.

While the promise sounds straightforward, the program includes multiple constraints:

It covers only enlisted personnel and non-commissioned officers on active duty assigned to the named battalion.
Time off is not automatic; eligible members must submit a formal request and receive approval from their company commander.
The pass cannot be combined with other leave.
Service members with active administrative restrictions are excluded.
Personnel who do not meet physical fitness and conditioning standards are excluded.

Longer service required: minimum two, maximum six years

Leadership also outlined that the battalion has a newly assigned career advisor who brought forward the refreshed incentive concept aimed at meeting retention goals for the 2027 fiscal year.

Under the approach described in the memo, eligible service members must extend their contracts for a duration ranging from a minimum of two years to a maximum of six years.