Collin Gosselin Was ‘Discharged’ from Marines for Previous Institution Stay

Collin Gosselin has hit a snag in his dream to become a United States Marine.

The former Kate Plus 8 child star, now 20, revealed that he wasn’t training to join the US military “any longer” during an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

“I was discharged,” he explained. “I was towards the end of training, very close to graduating. The paperwork was looked into, and they found out that I was, in fact, in an institution at one point in my life.”

“And see, they don’t need any deeper reason. Being in an institution, that’s good enough for [them] to discharge [you],” he added.

Despite this, Collin said he was working to appeal the decision as he has “very few other wishes in life that would top being a United States Marine.” For now, the television personality said he has plans to major in finance at Penn State.

Collin’s parents, Jon and Kate Gosselin, share 22-year-old twins Cara and Madelyn as well as sextuplets Collin, Alexis, Aaden, Leah, Joel and Hannah. Jon, 47, and Kate, 49, finalized their divorce in 2009. Kate eventually was awarded custody of their children and sent Collin to an institution for what she claimed to be “unpredictable and violent behavior” when he was 12 years old.

“I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t know where I was going… That was the most scared I’ve probably ever been in my life,” he told ET. “I didn’t even say goodbye [to my siblings].”

While he was there, Collin claimed that Kate only “came to visit me once” for 30 minutes. “The entire time all she did was lecture me and tell me that I destroyed our family,” he alleged. “Our family was under a spotlight 24/7 … I know strongly that the reason I was sent away was for my mother to protect her reputation.”

PEOPLE has reached out to reps for Kate and an U.S. Marine Corp spokesperson for comment.

Kate told PEOPLE in 2016 that Collin had “special needs.” In response, Collin told Entertainment Tonight in 2022: “It’s unfortunate that that’s how my mom, you know, phrased me as a person. You know, I don’t see those things and I don’t think anybody else sees those things, but if that’s how she sees me then, you know, that’s her point of view.”

Then, in an episode of Vice TV’s Dark Side of the 2000s that aired in July 2023, Collin claimed his mother “drove a barrier” between his siblings. He also accused Kate of being “abusive” toward him, claiming: “That’s kind of the reason why she sent me away. I was starting to tell people what was going on at home and, you know, she caught wind of that and had to put me somewhere where I wouldn’t be able to get the secrets out.”

Jon also claimed on the special that he spent $1 million to get Collin out of treatment. He previously told the Daily Mail in 2019 that Collin had no known diagnosed medical condition at that time other than common ADHD.

Shortly after the Vice TV episode aired, Kate responded to Jon and Collin’s accusations in a statement shared exclusively with PEOPLE.

“I have never wanted to have to do this, but I feel I have been backed into a corner and left with no choice. Although it saddens me to do so, I need to speak out now,” she wrote, in part, at the time. “My son Collin, whom I love with all my heart, has received multiple psychiatric diagnoses over the years. For the safety of myself, his brothers and sisters and for his own well-being, he was placed in a facility following years of outpatient treatment which proved insufficient for his needs.”

“Collin’s distorted perception of reality is one of the many issues that he has always struggled with. As many people who have family members grappling with mental health issues can attest, it is rarely and sadly surprising when complete fabrications occur, and this is just another heartbreaking facet of this fight,” she continued. “Unfortunately, I believe Collin remains a very troubled young man who continues to need a lot of help. His brothers and sisters and I have not been directly involved in his life due to his history of unpredictable behavior and violent tendencies towards us.”

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Jon later responded to her statement, telling PEOPLE: “Regarding these brand new false accusations, it seems clear that even today after not seeing her son since the 6th grade, Kate is unable to control her abusive words towards him. Do not forget that a judge awarded temporary sole legal and physical custody of Collin to his father in 2018. Kate never even showed up to court and never spoke to Collin ever again. At this point, Collin is training to be a Marine in order to serve his country and is unable to respond to his mother’s callous lies.”