After Major John MacGillis gives an interview to newspaper reporter Polly Cooper, the results are less than desired, so he tries again, only things go further than just a positive newspaper article.
An old friend of McGillis takes him out for a special night out before the wedding, but when McGillis shows up far later than expected, a wedge is put between him and Polly, making both question whether or not to marry.
After Elizabeth's date for a concert cancels, Elizabeth seeks somebody to go with her, and MacGillis asks Lt. Holowachuk to tag along with her. After the concert Elizabeth has developed a crush on Lt. Holowachuk, which Polly goes nuts over and must do something about.
Polly is reluctantly initiated into the Marine wives club by joining a group of them for Jane Wayne Day -- a day each year where they get to experience a little what MArine training is like.
McGillis finally meets the man he's been playing chess with via mail for years -- a 12 year-old boy, and his inability to beat the kid drives him crazy. Robin has her first crush, on McGillis' young opponent.
Polly refuses to give up her source on a news story of shady construction practices so the judge sentences her to a day in jail. McGillis must plan major and mom for the day.
Elizabeth has been wearing boxer shorts to school and is told that it's not allowed. Eventually she decides to write a paper on the injustice of it. The school is considering sanctions against her, so they ask for a parent to come in for a meeting. When Polly is unavailable, the Major offers to go but Elizabeth is worried cause he doesn't support her.
Sgt. James gets in a bar fight and MacGillis must come up with a punishment. Casey wears MacGillis' father's Purple Heart out of the house without permission, and loses it. He wants to spank her, and Polly is against spanking.
The children's pet bird, Lemon, dies while they are gone and MacGillis trashes it. Accused of being insensitive, he and the family see a therapist. Lt. Holowachuk tries his best to be his best, in hopes of his possible promotion.
Maggie, an old fling of MacGillis', now a Lieutenant Colonel in the Corps, shows up expecting to pick up where they left off, but is surprised to find out he's now married. Things don't get any better when Polly realizes Maggie still wants her husband.
MacGillis coaches a group of ten year-old girls in Robin's basketball team to finally have a shot at winning a game. Robin's inability to take any of it seriously causes her and MacGillis to butt heads.
MacGillis wants to spend some more time with the family so they go camping. Things are far from what he hoped, but when the power goes out in the area, a chance for the bushmaster to experience something closer to real camping and bring them closer together, is had.
A possible coup in a Central America country has MacGillis and troops on stand by the deploy, and things between him and the family become strained since he cannot reveal to anybody what's happening.
Two weeks after returning from deploy, Lt. Holowachuk is still antsy for more action. MacGillis wants a big truck called a Mud Monster, after being told he's old.
A new kid in school has turned out to be a bully toward Casey, which she solves in a way that gets her in trouble. Lt. Holowashuk wants to go to Vegas for the weekend, but is so worried about what MacGillias wants, that he changes his mind to stay and pull non-ordered duty.
Budget cuts force MacGillis to reassess his career in the Marines, when it comes down to either a promotion -- which means moving elsewhere -- or retiring. MacGillis and Elizabeth go to a father/daughter dance.
