When a group of cadets were at orientation camp at the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) War College in the western province of İzmir, something was waiting for them that would go on to affect them deeply.A camp commander ordered them to lie on the asphalt ground, scorching hot at nearly 50 degrees Celsius, and to stay in that position for hours until a second order. Those who managed to brave the exercise were burned to the point of the skin on their hands and feet melting and later had to swim so they could be further punished in the salty water.Years after this "training," neither that commander nor those students have been better for the experience.On July 15, a group of soldiers linked to the Gülenist Terror Organization (FETÖ) led by U.S.-based, retired imam Fethullah Gülen, attempted a coup in Turkey to overthrow the democratically elected government and assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. However they could not defeat the millions of people who poured into the streets. Turkish democracy passed the test flying colors.Following the rebuffed attempt, those who were involved in the coup were detained and dismissed either from the military or other state institutions. Among them was Özkan Özgenç, a staff major who was the mastermind of the torture-like training in İzmir nearly six years ago and whose WhatsApp text messages during the coup attempt were unearthed."It was the most horrible incident in my whole military education," said Enes Ayaşlı, who is an alumnus of the Kuleli Military High School and had to leave the Army War College in 2011 due to pressure from the FETÖ members there.The FETÖ's infiltration into the military has been discussed since the 1990s. Authorities revealed that more than 2,000 military students were made to leave military schools over the last decade. Inhumane training conditions in the orientation camp and the health problems as an outcome of it and personal matters with commanders or trials based on fabricated evidence, namely the Ergenekon and Balyoz (Sledgehammer) cases, were serious reasons for their disappointment in this process, which were all led by the FETÖ at the time.FETÖ bullying in War AcademyAyaşlı has spoken about how FETÖ infiltrated the military and its schools and aimed to purge everyone who did not cooperate with them. During this process, as many non-FETÖ students encountered the terrorist organization in the military high schools, the challenge worsened for the War College of the Land, Air and Naval Forces.Indicating that they started to hear rumors that dozens of people had left the college when graduation approached in Kuleli, Ayaşlı said the truth was there to see even in the opening days of the school."I was cleaning the ammunition depot in my first few days at the college. Then I found a list documenting more than 20 students names, including me who came from Kuleli. When I gave the list to a commander, he quickly grabbed the list and told me to shut my mouth. Then, the listed students gradually left the school."He also spoke about several discriminatory events during classes, which revealed the organization was trying to fire non-FETÖ students."For example, a commander would give us 200 to 300-page reading texts to be submitted at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. But they would also schedule an exam at 8 a.m. as well. It was impossible to study for it. In those exams, 50 points were from open-ended questions and 50 points were from close-ended questions. Those who received 47 to 48 from the open-ended questions still got a zero on the test. Then we realized that our answers were changed by someone."Urgent cleansing of FETÖ from military schoolsThe government plans to prevent FETÖ infiltration in military schools and institution using several policies. According to the plan, military high schools will be closed after it was revealed in the confessions of Lieutenant Colonel Levent Türkkan, a putschist who was the aide of Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, that Gülenists were regularly stealing and cheating on military school entrance exams.Furthermore, military academies will continue their functions under the auspices of the National Education Ministry. All students who are already being educated there will be broken off and military academies will procure the required personnel from normal state schools."The actual threat is from new graduates. If we consider that more than 1,000 cadets have graduated from the schools since 2012 and around 80 percent of them from the FETÖ, we now have a group of 4,000 people linked with this terrorist organization," Mustafa Kaan Güneş, another FETÖ victim at Kuleli and the War College who left the school in 2011, said.He also witnessed something strange during his times at high school caused by the FETÖ and the terrorist organization's infiltration at that time."Two Staff Lieutenant Colonels, Erhan Caha and Yunus Kotaman, came to Kuleli in 2008, when the education process in the school was increased to five years. After they came, the esteemed atmosphere of the school and superior-subordinate relationship was broken," he said, adding those two colonels were bestowing privilege on FETÖ students.Both Caha and Kotaman were also arrested and dismissed for taking part in the coup and having links with the FETÖ.Güneş also said that once the War Academy was a rival of the most successful universities in Turkey, it finally became a destination for those who could barely pass the university entrance exams. Many unqualified FETÖ-linked students who graduated from unqualified schools flocked into the school."Once a company commander realized that there was dust on the teacher's desk. After realizing that keeping the desk clean was the responsibility of a FETÖ-linked civilian-background student, he did not touch him. The commander knew that I was the responsible one in the class and despite his irresponsibility, he insulted me for 10 minutes and took my statement."Ongoing psychological, social effects on FETÖ victimsFollowing their departure from the academy, each student that was severely affected by the bullying suffered problems beyond the military, often resulting in the breakdown of family relationships and mental health."Even after I left the War Academy in 2013, my dream still was to be a soldier," an former cadet, who wanted to remain anonymous due to ongoing psychological problems, said."I had dreams that I was called back to the academy and we were going to fight terror, with my friends holding guns in their hands. I also feel sorrow that I did not get to do this because I had to leave the school," he said.He also said frustration after his departure caused him serious health problems, especially with his heart, as well as issues with social relations and his family and friends."I was closing the curtains, switching the lights off and sleeping for two days. I was totally left alone. I lost 10 kilograms in a short time because of smoking, which I started at that time, drinking coffee and eating almost nothing."Yet, there are several institutions to keep these former cadets together and pave the way for the judicial process that relieve victims of social and mental problems. As a member of the Platform of Discharged and Dismissed Students from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSKAA), Güneş said they will not give restoring their personal rights and the reestablishment of the institution, including the investigation process for the victims of the FETÖ."Once they told me about a kid that graduated from Maltepe Military High School who wanted to leave due to heavy pressure and stress. He told them that his father is a janitor and cannot afford the compensation [which is compulsory for those who want to leave the War College]. After that, he was dismissed from training and sent to the hospital. We never saw him again."Even though a lot of water has gone under the bridge, some of the victimized students still have not gotten over their trauma and need psychological help. Despite still being optimistic about moving on from their victimization, some still carry heavy financial and mental burdens and may never be able to enjoy the life they'd like to."Everyone pushes hard for the compensation issue. How much does the life of a youth cost?" Güneş said.