Twenty soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, have signed up to reenlist under an unusual incentive: time off to play GTA 6. It’s a distinctly gaming-focused approach to military retention, connecting a major career decision with soldiers’ entertainment interests.
Uniladtech, relaying reporting from CBS News, says the participants were offered four days away from duty for the game.
Reenlistment with a gaming perk
The Fort Stewart program included 130 eligible soldiers, according to Uniladtech. They had until November 14 to decide whether to commit to another term.
Lt. Col. Angel Tomko said the program was designed to connect incentives with soldiers’ interests and build excitement around reenlistment, the outlet reports. In this case, the perk was tailored around a specific game rather than presented as general leave.
The Army’s wider gaming connection
The incentive also follows the Army’s previous efforts to engage with gaming communities for recruitment. Uniladtech cites CBS News reporting that the service began seeking prospective soldiers at gaming conventions after missing its recruitment goal in 2018.
Fort Stewart’s program instead focused on retaining existing personnel, using a highly specific benefit to encourage eligible soldiers to stay.
Would time off to play a highly anticipated game influence your decision to reenlist?
