Most media nowadays print negative news. It’s a sad truth but a truth none-the-less. Due to the large military presence in our area (and the amount of military subscribers), the Virginian-Pilot does try to keep negative news about the Military to a minimum and tries to balance it with some positive news. Despite this, if you want some true good news about the military, try picking up the Flagship newspaper, available for free all over the place. Because it is printed by the Navy, it is of course all good news. They do however, have stories that you wouldn’t hear anywhere else.

For example, if you were not in an agency participating in the program or had not read the flagship, would you have known the the Navy had a program it calls i-ENCON, or the Incentivized Energy Conservation program? Even if you had heard of it, would you have known that through this program, the Navy saved 1.36 million barrels of oil FY 2009? That is equivalent to taking over 53,000 cars off of the road.

Another story: The Navy’s new Macon Island amphibious assault ship was designed with fuel efficiency in mind as well. It is estimated that it will save $250 million in fuel cost over its lifetime.

Who knew the Navy was so committed to saving fuel? These savings will surely be good on the environment and fuel prices closer to home. Last thing I found out in the Flagship that was neglected in the Pilot: The Navy’s new ship, the New York was not only docked in Norfolk on Thursday but it will actually be home-ported here. for those who do not know, the New York was built with recycled steel from the World Trade Center after September 11th.