Marti

You can try treating it yourself by soaking it in very warm water to which you have added about 1/4 cup of table salt or sea salt. Soak for about 10 minutes. While the nail is still soft and fairly wet, cut away as much of the nail as you can, then use an ingrown toenail file to get deep into the side and draw the file forward to remove even more of the deeply impedded nail plate. You should be able to find this file at your local beauty supply outlet such as Sally Beauty Supply. Also, you can roll some cotton onto the end of a wooden toothpick and press this into the depression between the nail plate and the skin. Once you 'roll' it into the area, you should be able to pull the toothpick away from the cotton, leaving the cotton betweeen the nail and the skin. For the first few days, apply peroxide twice a day to the cotton and let it dry. After that, apply antibacterial ointment twice a day.

I would highly suggest that you go to the doctor NOW and get this treated professionally as it will only get worse - especially if your training includes any type of physical activity. The pressure from your boots will only irritate it further and if it gets infected, they will send you to the doctor anyway, and it might bring a halt to your schooling until it has healed. You know how the military is!!