Jennie Cleary joined the Royal Navy in 2003 as a newly qualified nurse and conducted her initial training at HMS Raleigh. On passing out she joined her first hospital, MDHU Derriford in Plymouth. During her time in Plymouth, she successfully attended and passed JRLC.

After being based here for 2 years she then deployed on her first six-month tour during OP HERRICK. After her return home she then joined Keogh barracks in 2006 as a Phase 2 instructor in her first draft as a PONN. Here she instructed in the Common Core element of tri-Service medical training, she gained her Diploma in Education training and completed DTTT course. Whilst at Keogh she also undertook field gun training and competed twice in the competition. Whilst at Keogh she successfully attended and passed SRLC. From Keogh she then embarked on her specialisation course which meant converting her Nursing Diploma into BSc (Hons), she studied at the University of Manchester and specialised in Surgical ward nursing.

She then joined RCDM in Birmingham, before embarking on her second OP HERRICK tour. During this second tour she was promoted to CPONN and returned to RCDM as a Military Lead on Liver Surgical ward. Here she was able to develop her leadership skills of a small team of tri-Service nurses and also undertake the Divisional Officer role. During this time, she also undertook a secondary duty of Specialised Nurse Advisor (SNA) in Surgical nursing for the RN. This meant attending quarterly meetings with HNNS and also producing annual reports as well as shaping the future for surgical nurses and RN medical capabilities.

Wanting to undertake a staff role, IN 2014 she moved into the role of career manager, her AOR was QARNNS up to the rank of CPO and CPO medical rating. During this year she received the award of ARRC for service at RCDM. She then stayed in the Portsmouth area and moved into the medical spec recruitment role, she was responsible for recruiting Medical, Dental Officers into the RN. This role took her all over the country attending recruitment fairs and visiting careers officers. She then returned to RCDM and during this time that she completed her commissioning process and was due to attend BRNC in Nov 2018.

After passing out of BRNC she was drafted to JHG(SE) – Frimley Park Hospital, to undertake a ward management role running a 37 bedded ward with 70 staff. In 2019 she was selected to undertake the role of Defence Specialist Advisor for Surgical Nursing reporting to DNA.

Jennie is married to Jared and they live in Warwick with their whippet, Mr Skip. She enjoys playing netball, reading and attending live music event.