DIs have not been allowed to put hands on recruit since 78-79. I went through Ft. Jackson in 1980. But 10 minutes in the front-lean-rest postition will have you wishing that the DI had popped you one instead. This all a bunch of crap. My daughter went through basicin 2003. No stress cards were present at Ft. Leonardwood, either.
I'm sure if they ever did come out with "stress cards", an on-the-ball DI would simply tell the recruit to do push-up or sit-ups while they "composed themselves." If it were me, I'd give them a full hour to do so, while standing ramrod straight at the position of attention.
Don't know what you mean by "put hands on" but the UCMJ has always forbidden any kind of "assault" of any uniformed member,including trainees.
However,we always understood that in a court martial the NCO/Officer would *always* be believed over the recruit.