There are various challenges associated with being the spouse of a service member. Among them is the need to move from one state to another, depending on the most recent assignment of one’s spouse. For military spouses whose careers involve professional licenses, this means having to deal with transferring professional licenses and eligibilities from one state to another, in order to practice professionally when they move.

First lady Michelle Obama is pushing for the passage of legislation that will address licensing issues for military spouses. The Obama administration has made it the goal of all 50 states to make it easier for military spouses to transfer professional licenses and registrations from one state to another.

The first lady, speaking about the initiative before a group of service members, spouses, and officials in the Pentagon auditorium on February 15, said: “We know it’s an ambitious goal. We know it won’t be easy to achieve, but we also know that our nation’s military families have waited long enough.”

Mrs. Obama was joined by Army wife Ann Wells, Dr. Jill Biden, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was also in attendance, who shared his own wife’s experience with licensing issues while he was still in the service. The ability of his wife to practice was usually inhibited by these issues, Panetta shared. His wife is a nurse.

Gen. Dempsey, on the other hand, shared: “These are practical, real steps to bring more flexibility and portability with fewer obstacles and delays for our military spouses with license careers… It takes some of the rocks out of their rucksacks and gives them the fair shot that they both need and deserve.”