Germany's armed forces are working to clarify a provision in a recently updated military service law that requires fighting-age men to obtain permission to leave the country for more than three months. The law, which went into effect in January, had been overlooked until a local newspaper report highlighted it. The defence ministry is currently working on specific regulations for granting exemptions from the requirement. It aims to ensure a robust military registration system in case of an emergency and to increase the ranks of active soldiers.