Washington D.C. -- The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4 bid farewell to Sergeant Major Mark Chance, the G-4's Sergeant Major at a recent farewell ceremony at the Pentagon. SGM Chance was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious service in a position of great responsibility.

LTG Gustave "Gus" Perna, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, said "SGM Chance is a great leader who is always concerned about Soldiers and their families."

Sergeant Major Chance joined the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, in the Pentagon as the Command Sergeant Major, on 1 September 2011. He helped bring out the successful Army physical fitness uniform this past year. In addition, he has been instrumental in the planning to bring the Afghanistan Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) to all Soldiers later this year.

LTG Perna said SGM Chance has spent half of his 24 years in the Army in historic units. This includes two years as a Supply Sergeant with the Geronimos, the Army's first airborne unit; nine years with the Rangers, the Army's first special operations battalion; and three years with the Joint Special Operations Command.

SGM Chance was born in Jamaica and came to America when he was 19 years old. Three months later he joined the Army and became a citizen while serving in Alaska.

Perna said "he is an example for all of us, living the immigrants dream and contributing to our nation's freedom." He deployed four times to Iraq, twice to Afghanistan, and five times to the Horn of Africa.

SGM Chance is heading to U.S. Army Europe as the new G-4 Sergeant Major.