From the movie
Stripes, it was used as a satirical compliment for Sgt Hulka who they just couldn't do without.
Someone who annoyingly goes
overboard to get something done just to show up everyone, and then makes a
total ass of himself, but won't admit it.
Someone who thinks he's in charge, while at the same time his "underlings" show outward support, but actually this person has no idea what he's doing and everyone else knows it.
From the movie Stripes:
Winger - "An army without leaders is like a foot without a
big toe. And Sergeant Hulka is always gonna be here to be that big toe for us."
Nice job,
Big Toe.
How's our Big Toe doing today?