What tips do you have for someone heading to a winter basic training at Fort Leonard Wood?

A lot of trainees are going to get sick. Stay clean. Use lots of hand sanitizer. Take it with you everywhere you go. Personal hygiene is even more important in cold weather. Change your socks regularly, especially if they get wet. You will be issued cold weather gear, use it. About the time you start to get acclimated to the weather you’ll be graduating.

Do what your Drill Sergeants tell you to do.

It's that easy.

Really, really is.

Congratulations! You will be fine in Army Basic Training. Once you have graduated from Army Basic Training, You will understand there are differences between Army Basic Training and Marine Bootcamp, and will won't be the typical civilian who does not understand. Even today, I cringe when a civilian ask me "was Army Bootcamp fun?" I politely explain that Army Basic Training was not fun, and that I there to learn, work, and succeed. Furthermore, I joined the Army not the Marines. I thank them for their time and we part ways. One more informed and educated civilian.....