The Good Conduct Medal is awarded for what its name implies. It is awarded for "exemplary obedience, sobriety, military proficiency, neatness and intelligence during three years of continuous active service." If you serve three years in the Marines and don't get in trouble during that timeframe, they award one to you.
All branches have an Achievement Medal, and it doesn't take much to get one. I have four of them. He could have gotten one of them for something as simple as reorganizing the supply room to make it easier to find what you need in there. These are generally not awarded for combat actions. This is basically a top-of-the-line attaboy.
The Combat Action Ribbon is awarded for exchanging fire with the enemy. Since he was a machinegunner during a war, it's obvious he went past the line of departure and fought the enemy at least once.
Three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons means his unit deployed to the sandbox three times. During Iraq they were rotating units back and forth between the Continental United States and the war on a six months at war - six months at home station schedule.
The Iraq Campaign Medal, GWOT Expeditionary Medal and GWOT Service Medal are what we refer to as "I Was There!" awards.
The National Defense Service Medal is awarded to everyone on active duty during a period of declared hostility. I served during Desert Storm, didn't deploy to it and still got one.
The Navy Unit Commendation says he was in a very good unit. It goes to everyone who was in the unit during the period the award was authorized for.
A Certificate of Commendation is an attaboy not strong enough to justify getting the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
As far as his Rifle Qualification Badge goes...every Marine has one; you can't be a jarhead if you can't shoot.
It's a nice collection of fruit salad, but to a GI's jaded eye it isn't superlative.
What impresses the hell out of me is he made Sergeant in his first enlistment. That's not common in the Marines.
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