In a speech in August, President Obama called out to the private sector and challenged companies to hire $100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. Hundreds of companies have stepped up and made various commitments to that end.

A conference on Nov. 4 aims to step things up. The National Military Spouse Network summit will put employers from not just the private sector, but federal agencies face-to-face as well, with military spouses.

Sue Hoppin is founder and president of the National Military Spouse Network. She’s also a military spouse.

Military spouses might be viewed by some employers as unreliable because they must move from installation to installation. But Hoppin said military spouses are “highly flexible and loyal” and bring cultural experience from living in different locations.

“We’re committed. We’re there until we move,” she said in an interview with In Depth with Francis Rose.

Hoppin said the goal of the summit is not to ask for a “leg up” but rather to create a level playing field for military spouses.

Federal News Radio’s Jared Serbu fills in as anchor today.

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