John Winger, a cap-driver who loses his job, house, car and girlfriend all on one day, persuades his best friend Russel Ziskey to join the army together. Right at their arrival at Fort Arnold Winger offends his drill sergeant Sgt. Hulka who then keeps behaving especially harsh towards him troughout the rest of basic training. Shortly before graduation Hulka is injured and Winger takes his place as leader of the platoon on their graduation day. The platoon shows their drill display successfully and so they are ordered to join the EM 50 project in Italy. The EM 50, a new shielded trailer, is then stolen by Winger and Ziskey to drive to Germany, to visit two female MPs they met during their basic training. Recognizing the EM 50 is gone Captain Stillman starts a secret mission to get it back, during which he and his platoon are arrested by Soviets. Hulka manages to make a Mayday radio call and Winger and Ziskey come to rescue them thanks to the EM 50. Returning home Winger, Ziskey, Hulka and the two MPs are treated as heroes.