Stripes

John Winger, a taxi driver in Louisville, has an unfortunate start to his day when he confronts a fare that refuses to pay him and an overly demanding passenger with heavy luggage. Frustrated, he abandons both the cab and the passenger on the George Rogers Clark Bridge, setting the tone for a miserable day ahead.

Returning to his apartment, Winger discovers that his girlfriend, Anita, is leaving him due to his lack of motivation in life. As if things couldn't get worse, he sees his Mustang being repossessed, and he accidentally drops and ruins a pizza he had brought home.

Winger confides in his friend Russell Zimsky about his life's downward spiral and suggests enlisting in the Army to find new purpose. Despite Russell's initial disbelief, they both drive to the Army recruitment office and sign up together, marking a pivotal change in Winger's life.

At the training base, Winger and Russell meet their tough drill instructor, Sgt. Hulka. Winger makes a joke during Hulka's introduction but quickly finds himself in trouble, forced to complete 50 pushups as punishment, highlighting the harsh reality of military life.

The recruits face a rude awakening at 5 AM for their first day of training. When Winger suggests they get more sleep, Sgt. Hulka retaliates by extending their morning run from 5 miles to 10 miles, leading to further discontent among the platoon members.

That night, while Winger and his fellow recruits attempt to sneak off the base, they are caught by two female MPs. Instead of reporting them, the MPs take them back to their barracks, which leads to a chaotic but memorable night.

Amidst continued misadventures, Winger's squad proves inept in training exercises, leading to trouble with their commanding officer. An unexpected incident occurs when a mortar is fired mistakenly near Sgt. Hulka, injuring him and leaving the platoon without guidance.

Winger leads his comrades to a strip joint for some fun, where they encounter more trouble when the place is raided by the police. After a narrow escape, Winger and Russell are brought back to the base by their MPs, but with repercussions looming over their heads.

With graduation approaching but the platoon demoralized due to their antics, Russell devises a last-minute training plan. Winger steps up to rally the troops, using motivation to encourage the platoon to come together and practice a routine ahead of the ceremony.

On graduation day, Winger and his platoon make a dramatic entrance, singing and executing a synchronized routine. Their performance impresses General Barnicke, who assigns them to participate in a special operation involving a new military vehicle, the EM-50.

Upon arriving in Italy, Winger and his squad are reunited with Sgt. Hulka, who has recovered from his injuries. They are briefed on their new assignment, which involves guarding the state-of-the-art EM-50 during the unveiling process.

When Winger and Russell decide to take the EM-50 for a spin, they accidentally drive through a Czechoslovakian border checkpoint. This reckless mistake leads to their capture by Czech forces, causing panic and a scramble for rescue.

Determined to save their comrades, Winger, Russell, and the MPs execute a daring rescue mission at the Soviet base where their friends are being held. Using the EM-50's advanced weaponry, they launch an attack against Czech soldiers to facilitate an escape.

After a thrilling battle, the team successfully frees their captured friends from the Soviet base and makes a narrow escape back to Germany with the help of Hulka. They blast through the border checkpoint, narrowly avoiding re-capture.

Back in the States, the team is greeted as heroes, with their accomplishments celebrated in the media. Winger shares a final moment with Sgt. Hulka, who salutes him, marking a newfound respect between them and a sense of closure for their journey.