The Team Hill First Sergeant Council recognized one of Hill’s junior enlisted Friday with a Diamond Sharp Award.

Airman 1st Class Richard Burgula, Hill Air Force Base Contracting Directorate, was presented a certificate and a First Sergeant Coin as the winner of the award for the first quarter of 2014.

“Airman Burgula’s involvement in base activities caught the attention of the first sergeants,” said Master Sgt. Jamie Eichhorn, first sergeant for the 75th Medical Group. “It was more than just being part of a group and doing stuff (that earned him the award). His professional attitude, adherence to dress and appearance, and his ability to step up and take an idea and bring Airmen together to turn (the idea) into reality that made him the Diamond Sharp winner.”

The Diamond Sharp Award was started by Hill’s first sergeants to formerly recognize Airmen who have actively demonstrated their commitment to Air Force values or have gone above and beyond in helping others, Eichhorn said.

“(It’s) dong the right thing even when no one is watching,” she said.

First sergeants nominate individuals for the award and nominees do not have to be from within their first sergeant’s unit. The first sergeants bring their nominee’s name, achievements and reasons why the nominee deserves the award to the Team Hill First Sergeant Council. The first sergeants discuss and vote on the best candidate.

“The discussion process for the first sergeants can be intense,” Eichhorn said. “In the end it’s the vote that decides the winner.”

Burgula’s nominator wrote that Burgula had distinguished himself as the vice president of the Hill First Four Organization.

“(Burgula) has been in the Air Force for one year and has made a tremendous impact in the development of our youngest tier of enlisted members,” the nominator wrote. “He led the reorganization of the base movie theater, which, through the help of First Four volunteers, is showing a profit for the first time ever.”

The nominator also praised the Airman for creating a tracking system for members in the First Four organization that provides a quick reference for membership contact information.

“Since he took over as First Four vice-president, active membership in the group has increased 500 percent,” the nominator wrote.

Burgula was also praised for First Four volunteer efforts he led for two Hill AFB community events — Chill Around the Hill and the annual Easter Egg Hunt.

“He is making a tremendous difference for the future enlisted leaders of Hill AFB and the Air Force,” his nominator wrote. “His professionalism and caring attitude have made him an Airman to emulate and truly ‘Diamond Sharp.’?”