Leanne Jordan, Quality Management Administrator, is just one of our many veterans who is now part of Team NWAS. Leanne spent an impressive 25 years in the army before she decided to start her new challenge with us in the ambulance service. She told us, “I joined the army at 17. I was at college studying art and design and realised it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to go and see the world and earn my own money, so I decided to sign up. I said to myself, if I don’t like it, I’ll leave but I ended up staying for 25 years.”
Leanne was part of The Adjutant General’s Corps (Staff and Personnel Support) (AGC (SPS)). She was a warrant officer class two, responsible for managing the army’s most powerful weapon: its personnel. She explained, “I managed personnel’s administration, accountancy and finances, my detachment and I had to make sure our soldiers were always ready to deploy on operations at a moment’s notice.”
Wherever the army went, so did Leanne. She said, “Each unit has a detachment AGC(SPS) personnel attached to them so when they deployed, so did we. I have lived all over England, Northern Ireland and Germany and travelled all over the world. I’ve been to Cyprus, America, Canada, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and the Falklands. I have to say, the opportunities there are for travel and adventure training, are like no other, it’s one of my favourite memories from my career in the army.”
Throughout her lengthy career, Leanne made many happy memories, including meeting her husband who is also a warrant officer, in the artillery. But what stands out to her the most is the almost indescribable experience you get from being in the armed forces. She explained, “Being in the armed forces, the experiences you get to travel, the people that you meet and the bonds you make with people are so different. You make such close bonds with people because of the things you go through together that you wouldn’t in any other career. I’d recommend joining the armed forces even if you were to do it just for a few years, the experience you get will be worth it.”
After more than two decades in the forces, Leanne decided it was time for her to leave and settle back in her hometown of Bolton. She joined NWAS in April of this year working in our Quality Team, who make sure we provide the best possible care to all patients. “Everyone at NWAS has been so welcoming, I have really enjoyed my first two months, the support has been unreal. It’s a different atmosphere to the army and is a nice change. The transferable skills I learned during my time in the forces; communication, teamwork, flexibility, all definitely help me in this role.”
Leanne is also a part of the trust’s Armed Forces Network and believes the support it provides and the opportunities to celebrate all our armed forces personnel are fantastic. She said, “Not many people really know, or realise, how much our veterans and reservists give up and the sacrifices that we make so it’s great to see such a large organisation supporting this awareness week.”