The adjutant general may award the outstanding enlisted leader of the year ribbon to a member of the national guard of New Mexico who has been officially selected as the New Mexico outstanding soldier of the year, airman of the year or first sergeant of the year. This ribbon is established to recognize those members who have performed above and beyond their peer group in their profession, on- or off-duty, and in their communities, reflecting great credit upon themselves and the national guard within the calendar year of the award.