"A 40-year old veteran who has received many awards, including four Good Conduct Medals"
The illustrious Good Conduct Medal is awarded automatically after three years service without Non Judical Punishment or Court Martial. It's the norm to receive it not the exception.
With that being said this guy isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. After 1993, the policy of the US Gov't became cutting active force to the bone and activating Reserves in a time of conflict. Emperor Clinton did not want to pay for a large active force. With at least 12 years service he obviously decided to reenlist a couple of times despite this policy.
A normal career track should have this guy going up for E-7 at this point....Something's wrong.
Navy GCM is four years---but in all honesty the GCM is a laugh.
This article tries to take the award to elevate this do-do to hero status