Wealthy Daniel Forrester IV, who is believed to be in very poor health by his well-meaning but interfering aunts, Martha and Agatha, is overjoyed when he receives his draft notice, for he will finally have a chance to prove that he is physically fit. After Daniel passes his army physical, his chauffeur, Oliver Hardy, and gardener, Stan Laurel, join the army with Daniel so that they can take care of their beloved employer. During basic training in the cavalry unit at Fort Merritt, Texas, Daniel thrives on the discipline and hard work, but the sheltered Stan and Ollie are thrown in a tizzy by the unfamiliar regulations and routines. Their drill sergeant, Sergeant Hippo, quickly identifies the boys as bumblers, and is continually irritated by the antics of Stan's pet crow, "Penelope." Hippo is further annoyed when Daniel attracts the attention of pretty Ginger Hammond, who works at the base developing photographs. Ginger's interest in Daniel goads the jealous Hippo, who has been courting her in vain, to threaten the new recruit. Later, Stan and Ollie overhear Daniel proclaim his love for Ginger as he talks in his sleep and, worried that a romance would strain his heart, decide to dissuade Ginger from pursuing the relationship. Posing as a government inspector and a Wall Street tycoon, Ollie and Stan visit Ginger and tell her that Daniel is actually broke, even though he says he is rich. Ginger, who recognizes the boys from one of Daniel's photographs, dramatically tells them that she will never give him up and throws them out. Distraught, Stan and Ollie ask Hippo for his advice, and in order to break Daniel's date with Ginger, Hippo cancels his furlough and throws him in the guardhouse. Soon after, Stan and Ollie participate in maneuvers, during which the blue team is supposed to construct a bridge and attack the white team. The boys act as spies for the white team, but are quickly captured and forced to help build the blue team's bridge. When Hippo taunts Daniel about his friends' capture, Daniel escapes and gets Penelope. Daniel tells Penelope to find Stan, and the crow leads Daniel and the white team to the blue team's bridge. The white team blows up the bridge and wins the games, and soon after, Ginger proudly watches with Agatha and Martha as Daniel marches during an inspection. Penelope participates in her own uniform, and Stan and Ollie bring up the rear in a sanitation truck.