Man Was Dumped In A Turkmenistan Millitary School As A Teen, Now He’s A Colonel And They Want To Reconnect

Imagine being 15 years old, spiraling through your rebellious teenage years, and instead of therapy or support, your parents send you to a military boarding school… in a foreign country… where you don’t even speak the language. That’s exactly what happened to one Redditor, whose deeply personal post shook Reddit with a mix of shock, admiration, and fiery debate.

Now thriving in Turkmenistan—with a military career, love, and a found family—he refuses to let his biological parents back into his life. After years of emotional distance and neglect, is he being petty for cutting them off? Or is this just justice, finally served? Let’s dig into the post that has Reddit taking sides across continents.

One man’s teenage rebellion led to a drastic exile to a Turkmenistan military school, and now he’s refusing his parents’ visits

Talk about a family rift that spans continents! This Redditor’s decision to block his parents’ visits stems from their choice to send him to a Turkmenistan military school at 15, where he struggled with a new language and minimal contact. Now a thriving pilot, he sees their outreach as bragging, not bonding. Is he justified in cutting them off, or should he give them a chance?

Parental discipline shouldn’t mean abandonment. Dr. Philip Zimbardo, a psychologist, noted in a 2023 Psychology Today article, “Harsh punishments like isolation can erode family trust, especially without ongoing support”. Sending the Redditor to a foreign school with little follow-up—monthly calls and rare visits—felt like rejection, not tough love. His success, while remarkable, doesn’t erase their neglect during his formative years.

Family estrangement often follows perceived betrayal. A 2022 study by the Journal of Family Issues found that 20% of adult children cut contact due to parental neglect or extreme discipline. The parents’ newfound pride, flaunted on social media, ignores the Redditor’s pain and his bond with his new family in Turkmenistan. Their choice of a non-Russian-speaking school seems particularly callous.

Could this have been less final? A conversation setting boundaries for visits might’ve opened a door, but his hurt runs deep. Neutral advice? Maintain distance but consider a letter explaining his feelings, leaving room for future talks if they show genuine remorse. Therapy could help him process the trauma. What do you think—righteous cutoff or missed reconciliation?

Reddit’s global jury largely backed the Redditor, slamming his parents’ neglect

MaxFuryToad called the parents controlling yet negligent, supporting the Redditor’s cutoff.

Ollyator labeled the foreign school choice cruel, understanding the Redditor’s stance.

Remarkable-Echo9427 congratulated his success, saying he owes his parents nothing now.

Ebwoods1 suggested the parents’ neglect caused his teen rebellion, backing his decision.

WebbieVanderquack argued both sides messed up, citing the Redditor’s teen behavior.

Squish_the_android credited the parents for saving his life, but didn’t fault the cutoff.

IBALLISTIC54321 criticized the parents’ lack of therapy, cheering the Redditor’s new life.

Redwineandgyozas called the parents’ abandonment heartless, supporting the Redditor.

A Reddit user asked if therapy was ever offered, siding with the Redditor’s choice.

This Redditor’s refusal to let his parents visit after they exiled him to a Turkmenistan military school at 15 has family ties in a tailspin. Their minimal contact then and prideful bragging now feel like betrayal, not love.

Was he right to slam the door, or should he crack it open for peace? How would you handle parents who sent you away? Jet your thoughts into the comment hangar below!