FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- When Spc. Jared Seaman was a teenager, he was a self-proclaimed "science nerd" -- the type of kid who would watch hour after hour of the Discovery Channel. Now, Seaman is taking that love for science to the next level as he prepares to head to medical school.
Seaman, who serves as the Fort Drum MEDDAC commander's driver, recently was accepted at the University of Texas School of Medicine in San Antonio. He currently is in the process of completing requirements for the Health Professions Scholarship Program, or HPSP. Once complete, this program will allow him to move out of his current active-duty status into a reserve status to complete his schooling.
Going to medical school has been a dream of Seaman's since high school when during his senior year he took an advanced placement human anatomy physiology course. It was then that Seaman realized he could combine his love of science and learning with his "innate desire to help people."
"I had this intense interest in science," Seaman said. "After taking that course in high school … I realized that I could apply the fascinating things that I loved about science to help somebody.
"The idea of helping people through the application of knowledge … that just really excited me -- still excites me. The more you learn the more you are able to help."
During high school, Seaman also found himself struggling with the idea of joining the military.
"As a senior in high school, I wanted to be a doctor, but I also really wanted to join the military," Seaman said. "My grandfather was in the Army, my brother was in the Marines, and a couple of my high school buddies had just joined the Marines."
However, Seaman said he knew that if he wanted to be a doctor, he would have to put joining the military on hold and get an education. So it was at that point he made the decision to further his education and go to college where he majored in biology.
After college, Seaman was once again faced with the decision to continue with schooling or to follow his other dream of the joining the military.
This time he chose to join the Army.
"In my mind, it just made a lot of sense," he said. "I thought that if I went into the military (before medical school), not only would it make me a better leader and give me qualities of resilience, competence, confidence and things of this nature; it would also complement and strengthen the things I gained academically and mentally from college moving forward."
So, Seaman applied and was accepted to Officer Candidate School, where he planned to branch in the Medical Service Corps and learn more about military medical logistics.
Those plans were halted when he sustained a knee injury during OCS. Because of the amount of time it was going to take for Seaman to heal, he was told that he would have to reclassify if he wanted to continue in the Army. From there, Seaman knew he wanted to stay in and chose to reclassify as a radiology technician.
After completing his year of advanced individual training at Joint Base San Antonio, he was stationed at the Fort Drum MEDDAC in the Radiology Department. However, his time there was short-lived.
"They originally assigned me to the Radiology Department," Seaman said. "During my in-processing interview with the command sergeant major -- I knew he was poking around for drivers at the time -- I expressed my desire to apply to medical school, as well as my previous experience in OCS. He told me that I probably wouldn't be in Radiology much longer."
And he wasn't. After that meeting with Command Sgt. Maj. Theon Hart, former Fort Drum MEDDAC senior enlisted adviser, Seaman was selected to be the commander's driver.
Seaman said he is really fortunate for the opportunity given to him by Hart.
"Being able to be the commander's driver provided me the opportunity I needed to study for the (Medical College Admission Test), apply to medical school, and prepare for medical school," Seaman said. "Of course, I had various missions and office work, but there were many times when I would drop the commander off somewhere and had an hour to wait, so I was able to pull out my books and study. This really multiplied my study time."
Hart said he wanted to help Seaman because of the passion he saw in him.
"I didn't want him to get down on himself after having to leave OSC due to an injury. He had mentioned he wanted to go to medical school, but he just needed the time to study and take the MCAT," Hart said. "(The command group) was able to provide him that time. We've done this in the past with other Soldiers who have shown a passion; we try to do whatever we can to help them reach their goals.
"Spc. Seaman is humble, hardworking, dedicated and does the right thing when no one is watching," he continued. "He deserves this opportunity, and I am glad we were able to help him get here."
Seaman is currently waiting for his acceptance into the HPSP. Once officially accepted, he will be commissioned, placed on reserve status, and undergo a permanent change of station to San Antonio where he will begin medical school as a full-time student. The scholarship will allot him a monthly stipend, as well as pay for books and tuition.
"Once I graduate, I will be commissioned as an active-duty captain and go through residency as a captain," Seaman said. "Whenever I am done with residency, I'll begin paying back the short four-year commitment for the Army's provision for my schooling."
Right now, Seaman thinks he would be interested in a career in surgery.
"I want to do something with surgery, and I want to be in the Army. I don't know exactly what that will look like, and it could change. However, I know that I will likely spend the next 12 years in the Army -- due to medical school, residency and service commitment -- so I have a lot of time to figure things out."
While this wasn't the path Seaman thought he would take to get to medical school, he said it has been well worth it. He also hopes that his story can encourage others.
"It can be discouraging to be at the bottom when you have (worked so hard). I would just say to others in similar situations: don't lose heart. Let tough situations humble you. Let them mold you into the kind of person and leader you want to be. Remember that things happen for a reason. Be patient, don't get down on yourself, and stick it through."
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