Serving in Oregon and SW Washington, an In-Person Symposium for Providers Working with Veterans, Military Clients and their Families.
Thursday, August 6, 2026
8:30AM - 3:00PM PDT
What does military service look like in Oregon and SW WA? What's the breakdown between Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Personnel assigned in the region? Where are they and how does their service affect their families? With the help of the National Guard, we'll learn this and more.
Location: Oregon Military Museum
15300 Minuteman Way
Clackamas, OR 97015
Continuing Education: 4.25 (Applied through NASW Oregon)
Cost: Free to RVP Volunteers and partnering clinics who are listed in our directory and who have an active MOU with RVP. We also welcome our OR/WA Vet Center and VA staff to join for free. All other community providers, please pay $87 (or apply to become a RVP volunteer provider).
Lunch and refreshment provided.
Who Should Attend:
This training is open to all RVP Volunteer Providers, social workers, mental health counselors, and community providers.
What You Will Learn:
This full day, in person symposium will uncover what military service looks like in Oregon and SW WA. We’ll breakdown Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Personnel assigned in the region. We’ll talk to military leaders and families to seek an understanding on how service effects Singles, Married Couples, Children and Teens though our four part agenda which includes the following sessions:
- The Oregon Military Department and Uniformed Personnel in the Region
- What is a Deployment Cycle and the effects on Military Families in the PNW?
- Child and Youth and the Military Teen Experience
- Single Service Members and Military Couples
CE Faculty
Colonel BJ Kroeller, Director of the Oregon Military Department
Col Kroeller is the Human Resources Officer (HRO) for The Adjutant General and the focal point for managing the Oregon Army and Air National Guard full-time federal personnel programs. The HRO’s office is comprised of highly knowledgeable, empathetic, experienced professionals. HRO employees excel at anticipating needs and emerging programs while providing exceptional customer service and enhancing the quality of work for all our employees. HRO strives to create a work environment which fosters individual achievement, teamwork, integrity, professionalism, and accountability.
Carrie Froelich, State Family Program Director, OR National Guard. Branch Chief Service Member Family Support
Carrie oversees Military Family Readiness Specialists, and other personnel who provide direct services and resources to those serving in Oregon. In this role Carrie identifies the needs of the National Guard community, coordinating with various support organizations, implementing policies, and promoting programs to ensure service members and their families can thrive.
Casey Clarke, Military and Family Readiness Program Manager, Portland ANG Base
Casey oversees programs and services that enhance the well-being and mission readiness of Airmen, Military Personnel and their families assigned to or near the Portland Air National Guard Base. Casey provides resources for career support, financial readiness, deployment, crisis management, and personal/work-life balance. Through the Resiliency Center on the base Casey ensures members and their families are equipped to meet the many challenges of service.
Lorene Moore, OR ARNG Military Child and Youth Director
Lorene is charged with positively impacting Service Member and Family readiness, resilience, and retention by providing secure, timely, flexible, and high- quality youth development opportunities and resources which promote the overall wellbeing of National Guard children and youth.
Chaplain, Father Julia and TSgt Kyle Mergeler OR Air National Guard Religious Affairs
Chaplain Julia and TSgt Mergeler provide spiritual care and leadership, offering religious services, pastoral counseling, and advice to Commanders on matters of ethics, moral, and spiritual well-being for service members and their families at the Portland Air National Guard Base. Chaplain teams ensure Airmen may exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of religion and help maintain spiritual readiness, which is vital for overall force readiness. As part of the Religious Affairs Team, Father Julia conducts worship services, religious rites, and provides pastoral counseling for service members of diverse faiths.
Maj Beth Conn, Behavioral Health, OR ARNG
Maj. Beth Conn is a Director of Psychological Health in the Oregon National Guard. She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Portland State University in 1994 and has 25 years of social work and counseling experience. She plans, directs, and administers mental health programs, providing clinical care, prevention strategies, and consultation to promote psychological fitness, unit readiness, and the overall well-being of service members and their families. Her key duties include clinical activities, leadership consultation, outreach, policy development, and advocating for service members’ mental health needs, ultimately ensuring operational readiness. In addition to being a leader in the organization she’s also Mom to a Service Member! Her daughter, Caitlin Conn serves in the Oregon Air National Guard.
Want to attend our trainings for free? Become an RVP Volunteer and gain access to free CE trainings and other great benefits! Learn more about volunteering >
Contact: Jennifer Keeling, RVP Director of Retention and Recruitment .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
503-954-2259
Share this online:
