Medic of the Year

WORDS | REBECCA QUILLIAM

PHOTO | CORPORAL SEAN SPIVEY

Corporal Jaimee McCleary has been awarded the Medic of the Year and presented with the Gordon Watt Memorial Trophy for being a leader and role model to future medics.

Corporal (CPL) McCleary was posted to a medic instructor position just three years after graduating from the Deployable Health School (DHS). But even as a relatively junior medic she adapted quickly to the instructional environment with professionalism, confidence and charisma of someone well beyond her service years, her citation for the award said.

To add to her work outputs, she has performed the role of Air Force welfare officer (to DHS Air Force trainees) and volunteered as local Air Force recruiter for the medic trade.

“CPL McCleary routinely goes the extra mile to ensure others are supported for success with her genuine care and compassion for staff and students alike. She is frequently willing to assist other instructors with their workload despite her own busy schedule and full personal life.

“Instructionally, CPL McCleary has been noted as possessing ‘the ability to raise the motivation and morale of a room just by her nature and attitude’ as described by her immediate supervisor,” the citation said.

Her “calm demeanour, stoic professionalism and medical skills” became evident during a field exercise where CPL McCleary was appointed the exercise medic in addition to her instructional role.

“CPL McCleary was tasked with providing real-time medical coverage for the exercise, for both trainees and staff, executing this role to an exemplary standard whilst dealing with two medical emergencies and a significant Covid outbreak. At this time, CPL McCleary provided timely advice to commanders in a challenging, dynamic environment which enabled key leaders to make accurate and judicious decisions.”

Her actions resulted in CPL McCleary being awarded the Chief Instructors Commendation for her actions during the exercise.

“She has proven steadfast leadership ability in less than ideal situations responding and performing calmly and professionally during challenging realtime medical events. CPL McCleary is truly inspiring the next generation of practitioners with her performance and trade professionalism.”