Germany Eases Military Service Rules for Travelers

0:00On April 7th, Germany just clarified its new military service law, and its good news for young guys planning trips abroad. Men between 17 and 45 don't need prior permission from the Bundeswehr to leave the country, even for stays longer than three months. The Defense Ministry plans to roll out a blanket exemption this week to cut down on red tape. The rule was tucked into a law that kicked in back in January, but it only bites during a state of tension if service switches from voluntary, too. It flew under the radar until last Friday, sparking some worry among folks about travel freedom getting cramped. This all ties into Germany's push to beef up its army to hit NATO goals, shake off too much reliance on the U.S. and counter rising tensions with Russia across Europe. All 18-year-old men now get letters asking if they want to serve voluntarily, while women get the same invite but no pressure to reply. With that exemption dropping soon, young travelers can breathe easy and keep glow trotting

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