Kathrine Frich
Personnel must act quickly if they want to claim the prize.
Finding the perfect perk to keep employees on board is always a difficult challenge.
Bosses usually offer cash bonuses or extra vacation time. Now, one military unit has tapped into a massive cultural moment to keep its ranks full.
A unique offer
A United States Army battalion is thinking outside the box to boost retention numbers. Leaders are offering soldiers a four-day weekend just to sit home and play Grand Theft Auto VI.
According to Daily Express, the upcoming title hits store shelves this November. It represents a massive entertainment event for millions of dedicated fans.
The creative pitch comes from military leaders at the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion in Georgia. The group operates under the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart.
To grab the gaming time, troops just need to sign a new contract. Twenty soldiers have already accepted the deal.
Signing the contract
An official military memo outlines the exact rules of the unusual promotion. The document recently went viral across social media.
The text clearly states the purpose of the long weekend. The memo explains, “This special pass is specifically designated to coincide with the highly anticipated release of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6).”
Personnel must act quickly if they want to claim the prize. They have to sign their commitment between early August and mid-November.
The deal requires a serious pledge. Soldiers must agree to serve for at least two more years, with some contracts stretching up to six years.
Driving real excitement
A career counselor originally pitched the gaming holiday to senior military leaders. They wanted a fresh way to hit retention targets for the next fiscal year.
Lieutenant Colonel Angel Tomko is a spokesperson for the division. She detailed the exact strategy during a recent interview with CBS News.
She noted, “The idea was to have a unique incentives program that connects to what Soldiers are interested in. The command team, in conjunction with the career counselor, wanted to get soldiers excited to reenlist.”
This modern strategy appears to be working well. Speaking to the Independent, Tomko mentioned that troops are stepping up to discuss their options sooner.
She added, “The command team thinks eligible soldiers are more aware that they are in their window for reenlistment and engage their leadership and the career counselor earlier to see available opportunities.”
Sources: Daily Express, CBS News, Independent
