U.S. Air Force Veteran | Mental Health Advocate | Pacific University Alumna & Faculty
#WomenWhoServeAndSupport | #CommunityWhoServeAndSupport | #AlumniWhoServeAndSupport
Agnes Abel served in the United States Air Force from 1975 to 1980, beginning her career as a medic at McChord Air Force Base in Washington. Her time in the military became both a professional milestone and a personal journey that strengthened her independence, patience, and commitment to helping others.
Through the Air Force Bootstrap Program, Agnes was able to pursue advanced education while continuing her service. That opportunity allowed her to complete graduate work in psychology and eventually pursue additional studies in social work and clinical psychology. Education became an important part of her lifelong path, shaping the work she would later do in counseling, teaching, and community mental health.
One of the most defining experiences of her military career occurred at McChord Air Force Base in 1978. At the time, Agnes hoped to help establish one of the first mental health clinics on the base. Although she was qualified to pursue the program, she was initially told she would not be allowed to move forward due to internal opposition within the medical leadership.
A senior officer quietly encouraged her to remain patient and wait for the right moment. One year later, when circumstances changed, he honored that promise and approved the program. That moment became a lasting lesson in patience, perseverance, and the importance of trusting those who support your goals.
The experience also shaped Agnes’s future work. Years later, she would go on to establish a mental health clinic in Forest Grove, Oregon in 1989 — continuing the work she had first envisioned during her military service.
Agnes later continued her academic journey at Pacific University, where she pursued advanced study in clinical psychology and also served as a member of the faculty. Her work in counseling and education reflected the same commitment that had shaped her time in the Air Force: helping individuals build resilience and navigate life’s challenges.
For Agnes, military service was both an adventure and a responsibility. It provided opportunities to meet unique individuals, gain organizational skills, and pursue educational opportunities that shaped her professional life. At the same time, it reinforced the importance of dedication to the nation and to helping others.
She reflects that service is fundamentally about giving of oneself. It is about contributing to the well-being of others and working toward unity and respect both within the military and within the broader community.
Throughout her life, Agnes has carried forward the lessons she learned during her time in uniform: patience, assertiveness, kindness, and dedication. She believes those qualities are essential not only in military service but in everyday life.
Her story reflects perseverance, humility, and a belief that meaningful change often comes through steady commitment rather than recognition.
The photo shown in her bio is the only picture Agnes has of herself from her time in the service. It was taken on January 28, 1977 — the day her son was born. It was just a joking-around moment, showing her husband at the time that EVEN a 9-month pregnant woman could fit into HIS uniform! The purple medic cap was hers. Everyone had a good laugh about it.
