FIRST CALL: Notes & Ramblings From The Pilothouse

Recruit Company 248 at graduation rehearsal
Preble Field, RTC/NTC San Diego (1973)
Photo from The Anchor

Yup, I bought a Bluetooth headset for my mobile phone. It keeps me on the right side of the law with the new California regulation that prohibits drivers from using their hands to talk on their cell phones while driving. It didn't cost me much, and it allows me to jabber while flying down the freeway with both of my hands on the wheel. And when other drivers see me chat with the little thingy in my ear, it probably gives them the impression that I'm some important schlemiel...or I enjoy looking like Mr. Spock from Star Trek...

The other day my next-door neighbor, an elderly gent, stopped me to ask some questions about digital TV; as he knew I worked in the broadcast industry. I in the most simplest way I knew how, I described what's going to happen in February 2009.

After a few follow-up questions, and some answers, he seemed confident that he'd make the leap into the digital TV realm next year.

Which prompted me to think of my own tongue-in-cheek frequently asked questions (FAQ) list for the digitally-challenged TV viewer.

Navy's first littoral combat ship gets underway for builder's trials

Story by Jon Yim


SAN DIEGO - The nation's first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1) ? the inaugural ship in an entirely new class of U.S. Navy surface warships ? underway for the first time during day one of the ship's Builders Trials near Marietta, Wisconsin.

The agile 377-foot Freedom -- designed and built by a team led by defense contractor Lockheed Martin -- will help the U.S. Navy defeat growing littoral, or close-to-shore, threats and provide access and dominance in coastal water battlezones.

In developing capabilities to overcome surface and subsurface threats in the littoral warfare realm, the Navy wanted a ship that can be a "jack of all trades" -- with improved mine warfare capability; an effective counter to small, fast, highly-armed boats; and a ship better-suited against the current generation of quiet diesel-electric submarines.  These capabilities brought out the need for a shallow-draft vessel with endurance -- and high speed. 

The LCS are designed to meet that need.

According to the Program Executive Office-Ships (PEO-Ships), the LCS are the first Navy warships to provide "a robust, affordable, mission-focused warship designed to provide assured access for our joint forces." Freedom, and her sister, Independence (LCS 2, currently under construction), will have the size, speed, endurance, and network connectivity to deploy with carrier, expeditionary, or surface strike groups.

While Freedom and Independence will look almost identical, Independence will carry some core capabilities, such as self-defense and command and control; but its true war-fighting capability will come from its tailored mission modules -- called Mission Packages, which can be changed out quickly. These will be supported by special detachments that will deploy manned and unmanned vehicles and sensors in support of mine, undersea and surface warfare missions. 

Like its sister ship, LCS 2 will be configured for one mission package at a time, consisting of modules, manned aircraft, unmanned vehicles, off-board sensors, and mission-manning detachments, all in an open-systems architecture.

The Department of Defense awarded both Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics separate contract options in May 2004 for final-system design with options for detail design and construction of up to two LCS ships.  The future USS Independence (LCS 2) is the General Dynamics? lead hull in that ship design.

In October 2005, the Department of Navy awarded General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, a contract for detail design and construction of their first LCS.  General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works teammates include Austal USA of Mobile, Alabama. and General Dynamics ? AIS of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
- Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin
- PEO-Ships and Lockheed Martin Defense Systems contributed to this article

Featured Upgrades

Photo Ranking Improvements
Last month we launched the new photo ranking system - this month there are two key improvements. First the ranking is now much faster with a pop up window when you click on the stars:



Secondly you can now rank your own photos, which allows you to give people a sorted list of photos organised in the order that you consider them interesting or well taken.

Thirdly since the first place that photos get made visible is on the Home Tab - What's New page we have added the ranking stars directly on that section as well:



Manual Sort Order
If you dont feel like ranking your photos from one to five you can order them in any sequence you prefer - there are two ways to control the sequence.

The simplest way is to make sure that your are ordered by sequence and then click the blue up/down arrows on the photo title bars:



The alternative way is to edit the photo and then directly type a number into the sequence field - a 1 will position the photo at the front of the gallery for example.

Video Upgrades
We have also tweaked the military videos section (Home Tab - What's New). You can now sort videos by Date, Size or Title and each video lists the format and size so that you can be selective about what you download.

Senate Confirms Petraeus, Odierno

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - The Senate has confirmed Army Gen. David H. Petraeus as commander of U.S. Central Command and Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to receive his fourth star and succeed Petraeus as commander of Multinational Force Iraq.

The full Senate confirmed Petraeus by a vote of 95-2 and Odierno by a 96-1 margin. Odierno is the Army's 3rd Corps commander and served as commander of Multinational Corps Iraq for 14 months.

The changes put Petraeus -- who implemented the U.S. surge into Iraq -- in charge of U.S. military forces in a dangerous part of the world. The command stretches from Pakistan to Egypt and from Kazakhstan to the Saudi Arabian peninsula. It includes the war in Afghanistan and, until Oct. 1, also includes control of Joint Task Force Horn of Africa based in Djibouti.

Petraeus will take over CENTCOM after giving his assessment on the post-surge conditions in Iraq. The last surge brigade will leave Iraq at the end of this month.

Petraeus called for -- and Defense Department leaders agreed to -- a pause before bringing the U.S. force in Iraq down any further. The decision on further withdrawals probably will not come until mid-September, and Petraeus will not leave the Iraq command until that is complete, officials said.

In another general officer announcement today, the White House has officially nominated Gen. Norton A. Schwartz to be Air Force chief of staff and Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb to succeed Schwartz as commander of U.S. Transportation Command, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Senate officials could not say when the confirmation hearings for the men would be.

Mullen: Iraq Drawdown Timeline Would Be Dangerous

By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON Setting a timeline for U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq would be dangerous, and troop reductions there should continue to be made based on security conditions on the ground, the nation?s top military officer said today.

President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki agreed to set a general ?time horizon" for bringing more U.S. troops home from the war, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said in an interview with anchor Chris Wallace on ?Fox News Sunday,? but he added that to his knowledge, the agreement does not include specific dates. ?I think the consequences could be very dangerous in that regard,? he said.

The admiral stressed his view that troop-strength decisions must be conditions-based, but said he wants to see more U.S. forces come home. I think the strategic goals of having timed horizons are ones that we all seek,? he said, ?because eventually we would like to see U.S. forces draw down and eventually all come home, he said.

Though he said he worries that a 'rapid' movement of U.S. forces out of Iraq could create instability, Mullen said he found during a trip there two weeks ago that security conditions were better than he expected they would be, and that could mean more troops can come home if the trend continues.

If conditions continue to improve, I would look to be able to make recommendations to President Bush in the fall to continue those reductions, Mullen said.

With the return home this month of the last 'surge' brigade, commanders will spend the next several weeks assessing post-surge conditions in Iraq, including political and economic progress, before making their recommendations concerning future troop levels.

We're engaged very much right now with the Iraqi people, Mullen said. The Iraqi leadership is starting to generate the kind of political progress that we need to make, [and] the economy is starting to move in the right direction.

The admiral said he doesn't know if that means more troops could be home by the end of this administration in January. Logistics and other security details would factor into that, he explained.

There is a physical challenge with respect to moving troops around, he said. You just can't do it overnight.

Asked about recent struggles in Afghanistan, Mullen said safe havens across the border in Pakistan are allowing extremist groups free movement into the region.

[It] is big challenge for all of us, and it's having an impact on our ability to move forward in Afghanistan, he said.

A 'syndication' of various extremist and terrorist groups in the region is creating a more intense internal threat, the chairman said, and recent attacks have become more serious and sophisticated, such as the attack last week on an outpost in which nine U.S. soldiers were killed. However, he said, commanders on the ground say that forces are making progress and moving into villages and territories previously out of reach.

Mullen acknowledged that progress has been mixed, but he said he is ?not concerned at all that we are losing at all in Afghanistan.

Concerning Iran, Mullen said he is 'encouraged' by talks between Iran and the European Union yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland, and that the international community needs to continue its pressure on Iran's nuclear weapons development program.

I fundamentally believe that they are on a path to achieve nuclear weapons in the future, he said. I think that's a very destabilizing possibility in that part of the world. We don?t need any more instability in that part of the world.
-USN photo by MC1 Chad McNeeley

New PT Uniform Guidelines Announced

Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - Sailors now have the regulation and manner of wear for the Navy's new Physical Training uniform (PTU) with the release of NAVADMIN 191/08, July 9.

"Every time we roll out a new uniform we actively solicit feedback from the fleet and the exchange - this is an important part of our process. We're already making improvements in the next production run for both the shorts and the shirt," said Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson, Chief of Naval Personnel.

The PTU, now available in Navy Exchanges, is required for command and unit physical training, and the semi-annual physical fitness assessment (PFA) beginning October 1. The PTU may also be worn on and off base for fitness or leisure, unless determined otherwise by regional coordinators or commanding officers.

During command exercise in port, the PTU shirt must be tucked into the shorts; during individual PT, or on liberty, shirts may be worn in or out of shorts. At sea, the wearing of the PTU will be at the discretion of the commanding officer.

The PTU cannot be worn while in a duty status or when conducting official business on base such as visiting medical treatment, galleys or Personnel Support Detachments.

Ferguson said the Uniform Matters Office has received many useful comments about the PTU design and quality, and that the shirt and shorts will be constantly improved over the next few years.
- Photo by MC2 Andrew McCord

DoD's "101 Critical Days of Summer" at Halfway Mark

WASHINGTON : Midway through the ?101 Critical Days of Summer, 50 servicemembers have died in off-duty accidents, half on motorcycles, defense officials reported.

The 101 Critical Days of Summer refers to the period between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day that typically sees a spike in vehicle and recreational accidents. It's the time when more people get outside and enjoy off-duty activities and more people are traveling, said John Seibert, the Defense Department's assistant for safety, health and fire. But unfortunately, it's also a time when we see more accidents.

Motor vehicles remain the No. 1 cause of off-duty military deaths, and despite broad safety awareness efforts militarywide, that trend shows no sign of diminishing this summer. Thirty-seven servicemembers have died in motor vehicles since May 23.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates noted in a safety message to the field sent just before Memorial Day that 77 servicemen and women were killed in private motor accidents during last year's 101 Critical Days of Summer.

Officials say they're particularly concerned about the incidence of motorcycle deaths 25 militarywide since Memorial Day weekend. Citing high fuel prices and cash accumulated during deployments that are driving up motorcycles? popularity within the force, officials say they fear these numbers will only go up.

Eighteen of the Army's 23 off-duty fatalities since Memorial Day have involved privately owned vehicles. Of those, 12 soldiers were killed riding motorcycles and one, an all-terrain vehicle, reported J.T. Coleman from the Army?s Combat Readiness and Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Similarly, 10 of the 12 sailors who died in off-duty accidents since May 23 were involved in vehicle accidents, according to April Phillips from the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, Va. Eight of the Navy fatalities involved motorcycles.

The Marine Corps reported eight off-duty losses since the 101 critical days of summer campaign launched. Six of the eight Marines died in vehicle accidents, with three killed on motorcycles, said Marine Lt. Col. Mike Miller, who heads up the Corps ground safety branch in Washington.

The Air Force, experiencing one of its safest summers in a decade, reported seven off-duty deaths since the Memorial Day weekend. Of those, one involved a four-wheeled vehicle and two involved motorcycles, said Jewell Hicks from the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

That's a significant improvement from last year, when 19 airmen died during the 101 critical days. Fifteen of those deaths resulted from vehicle accidents, and seven of the airmen were riding motorcycles.

Air Force Chief of Safety Maj. Gen. Wendell Griffin blamed speeding, loss of control and improper techniques while rounding curves as the leading causes behind the motorcycle deaths. He noted in a videotaped message to the Air Force launching this year's 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign that failure to wear a helmet and mixing alcohol with riding contributed to some of these crashes.

But Miller cited the growing popularity of sport bikes as another factor driving up motorcycle accidents. These high-performance motorcycles travel at extremely high speeds and can be difficult to control.

It truly is like trading in your Dodge minivan for a Ferrari, Miller said. You don't so much ride one of these as hang on for dear life.

It's little surprise that young servicemembers, attracted by the adrenaline rush sports bikes promise and their relatively low cost, are lining up to buy them. And while disturbing, officials say, it's also not surprising that they're contributing to more military deaths.

For example, 19 of the 21 motorcycle fatalities so far this fiscal year occurred on sport bikes, Phillips reported. Nine of the Army's 12 off-duty motorcycle deaths since the Memorial Day weekend involved sports bikes, Coleman said.

Miller said that while he doesn't yet have statistics to back up his hunch, he?s sure they?re driving up Marine Corps fatalities, too. He noted that the Marine Corps lost 19 Marines to motorcycle deaths during fiscal 2007. With almost a full quarter of fiscal 2008 ahead, that number hit 18 on July 10.

Intent on bucking this trend, the military is taking action. In addition to the basic motorcycle safety course all military riders must take, the services now promote specialized training for those who ride high-performance motorcycles.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Military Sport Bike Course is now mandatory for all sailors who ride sport bikes, Phillips said. The course also is being offered to soldiers at a growing number of Army bases.

Meanwhile, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Fort Lejeune, N.C., which is leading the Marine Corps sport bike safety effort, is contracting with a professional motorcycle school and expanding the training to several Marine Corps sites, Miller said.

The Air Force's Air Mobility Command developed a sport bike safety class that's mandatory for all its airmen. It provides the training materials on request to all other Air Force installations, explained Frank Kelly at the Air Force Safety Center.

Meanwhile, as the 101 critical days of summer continue, military leaders are urging vigilance and a focus on safety.

Gates emphasized in his safety message to the field each servicemember's responsibility in promoting motor vehicle safety. Know that the choices you make at sporting events, barbecues and other summer activities can impair your judgment and reaction times, all of which are necessary for safe driving,he said.

He reminded servicemembers that most vehicle accidents involve alcohol, fatigue or excessive speed, and most are preventable. Don't put your life or the lives of others in danger by making poor decisions, he said. Your safety and the safety of those around you is in your hands.

Army Brig. Gen. William Forrester, commander of the Army Combat Readiness and Safety Center, cited the 2008 July 4 holiday as the first in decades with no fatal off-duty accidents within the Army. To put this into perspective, this is the first recorded fatality-free Fourth of July holiday period the Army has experienced since the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center began keeping records in 1974, he said.

Forrester noted, however, that three reserve-component soldiers who were not in a duty status were killed in motorcycle accidents during the holiday weekend.

The Air Force and Navy also reported fatality-free July 4 weekends in terms of off-duty accidents.

The Marine Corps suffered two off-duty fatalities during the holiday weekend. A corporal died July 5 after his motorcycle hit a curb and threw him onto the street, officials said. A staff sergeant was killed July 6 when his motorcycle veered off the road, struck a curb, then ran into a tree.

Rear Adm. Arthur J. Johnson, commander of the Naval Safety Center, reminded the fleet this week it's not too late to begin a summer safety campaign. Now that we?re back from the Fourth of July holiday, it's time to take a hard look at the job we've done managing risk to far this summer, he said. That, he said, includes reinforcing behaviors and attitudes that can make the all-important difference between life and death.

Militarywide, officials emphasized the importance of leadership in promoting safety awareness and preventing off-duty accidents.

Forrester said engaged leadership lays the foundation for the cultural shift needed for troops to take personal responsibility for their own safety. This, he said, will help drive down accidental losses. Griffin said in his 101 Critical Days of Summer video that every day offers an opportunity for servicemembers to help identify unsafe practices that can save a comrade?s or buddies? life.

Ultimately, safety boils down to a readiness issue, because the military needs every single member to carry out its mission, Griffin said. As we continue to wage the global war on terror, we can't afford to lose a single one of our most precious resources, he said, the men and women in uniform who make the mission happen every day.

OUR ALLIES IN-ARMS

The HOIST's spotlight on our allied military partners.

United Kingdom -- HMS Victorious returns to homeport
Story & photo courtesy Royal Navy

The Vanguard Class submarine HMS Victorious returned to HM Naval Base Clyde after a multi-million pound, three-year overhaul at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth.

Over 80 design improvements have been incorporated, 14,000 items of equipment removed, repaired and refreshed, 2,600 new items manufactured, and 10,000 people were involved in putting in some 2.2 million man hours in the work.

Crucial to the overhaul was the installation of a new 'H' type reactor core which means that for the rest of her lifetime in service she will never need to refuel again.

Victorious is one of the four Vanguard Class submarines which operate Britain?s operational nuclear deterrent.

Vanguard has already had her overhaul and next in line is Vigilant, probably starting at the end of this year or early next year. Vengeance will be the last, in order of build, at a time still in the planning phase.

All four are home based at HM Naval Base Clyde.

Commanding Officer, Commander Dave Pollock, said: HMS Victorious is an important Fleet unit that has been overhauled and equipped to play a key part in the provision of a Continuance At Sea Deterrence.

She's in great shape, our crew are fit, well and ready for the job they are trained for. Morale is good and we are looking forward to working up and getting back to sea.

Coming back to the Clyde is, of course, a great pleasure as it is our home base.

NTWS Ships Store - For All Your Navy Shipmate Swag!

Visit to our online NTWS Ships Store for all your cool Navy swag - Shirts, Jackets, Hats, Jewelry, Footwear, Medals, Patches and much, much more!

(The Ships Store can also be found under the "Navy Store" tab or on the left hand Home Page just as you log into NTWS)

Over 9,000 quality Items at the lowest prices...and a 30-day, money-back guarantee! Here's some new items that just arrived in our store:

• Navy Golf Shirts (Various logos and colors)
  
• Belleville US Army Insulated Combat Boot
• Jostens Classic Men's U.S. Navy Ring - Rectangle Stone
• US Navy Ship Art Prints (2000 ships to choose from)
  

Thank you for your support of the NTWS Ships Store. All Store proceeds go towards promoting the NTWS website, bringing more Sailors to the TWS Community.

PHOTO LOG: Views Around The Fleet This Month

 

MOVING A ROBOT - Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer Sean Huron (left) and Aerographer's Mate Airman Ryan Thuecks (right), from the Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center, carry a Remote Environmental Measuring Unit (REMUS) for an experiment in Honolulu Harbor. The REMUS 100 is a compact, light-weight, autonomous underwater vehicle designed for operation in coastal environments up to 100 meters in depth.
- Photo by MC2 John W. Ciccarelli, Jr.

BE ALL YOU CAN BE...AT SEA - Army Transportation Corps Soldier-Mariners guide a Trident floating pier toward Gold Beach during Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore (JLOTS) 2008 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA. The engineering and logistical training exercise between Army and Navy units sharpens skills to load and unload ships without the benefit of deep draft-capable, fixed port facilities.
- Photo by MC2 Brian P. Caracci

OFF TO HIT THE SILK - Naval Special Warfare personnel board a Georgia Air National Guard C-130 Hercules to conduct a freefall parachute jump over San Diego. Qualified parachutists must jump at least once per quarter to keep their certification current.

- Photo by MC2 Michelle Kapica

STILL FROSTY IN JULY - The nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) moors at the North Pole to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first submarine polar transit by USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in 1958. Providence is en route to join the US 7th Fleet from its homeport in Groton, CT.

- Photo by YN1 J. Thompson

ON-SITE DENTISTRY - Republic of Korea Navy LT Michael Sim (right) of Seoul, ROK, and UC San Diego pre-dental student Brian Huh, of Santa Monica, CA, extract a patient's tooth at a Pacific Partnership dental civic action project in East Timor. Pacific Partnership is a four-month deployment by the USNS Mercy to assist the governments of participating nations with medical, dental and civic assistance programs.
- Photo by MC2 Joseph Seavey

-

LOOKING FOR THE ALL CLEAR - Fire Controlman 2nd Class Gary Weaver scans his area before allowing his visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team from the guided-missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) to move forward. Elrod's VBSS team practiced their skills aboard the Russian anti-submarine warfare ship museum Severomorsk as part of Exercise Northern Eagle 2008.

- Photo by MC2 Chris Henry

SINSE WOWS 'EM AT GREAT LAKES - Sailors dressed in the new Navy physical fitness uniform from commands aboard Naval Station Great Lakes enjoy a free concert by actor Gary Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band at historic Ross Field.
- Photo by MC2 Thomas J. Miller

DO YA WANNA KNOW A SECRET? - Sailors communicate with each other while waiting to launch an F/A-18F Super Hornet aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
- Photo by MC2 James R. Evans

IMPERIAL HONOR - CAPT Tilghman D. Payne, (right) is awarded the Order of the Rising Sun from ADM Keiji Akahoshi, Chief of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces during a presentation at the Pentagon. Payne was recognized for his work in building relationships between United States and Japanese forces. The award, presented in the name of Emperor Akihito, is Japan's second most prestigious decoration.
- Photo by MC3 Jhi Scott

Maps of Iraq & Afghanistan

Free, downloadable full color maps of Iraq and Afghanistan in Adobe PDF format, courtesy of the military's only UNOFFICIAL daily newspaper, Stars and Stripes.

TWS Coins, Coffee & More - the TWSCafe!

We're proud to announce the opening of the new "TWS Cafe!"

In partnership with our friends at Devil Dog Brew, we've created the TWS Cafe where you can purchase custom coffee blends of "Devil Dog Brew" and "Snipers Brew" at a discounted price especially for TWS Members.

In addition to coffee, initial product offerings include the Marines and Navy TWS Challenge Coins shown below.
(more products are coming soon, i.e,. custom TWS logo bumper stickers and coffee mugs!)

Coins and coffee can be ordered directly from the TWSCafe page with payments accepted via credit card.

Coin prices are a flat $10 each which includes shipping.

Coins may also still be ordered via PayPal or Check/Money Order.

For PayPal, send an email payment (from within your PayPal account) to: merchandise@tws-advisor.com

For Check Orders: Send Checks payable to: TWS Events; P.O. Box 50, Bryantsville, KY 40410 -

BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR SHIPPING ADDRESS AND SPECIFY WHICH COIN YOU WANT with your check or PayPal order!

VET TOPICS

OFF DUTY: Don't let food bugs ruin your summer!

By Jon Yim
Editor, The TALON

Summer picnic season has arrived! Time to pack a basket filled with your favorite goodies and head to the beach, the park or a mountaintop.

What you want to leave behind are food-borne bacteria that multiply and grow best in warm temperatures, leaving you a nasty case of the "summer bug" (symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea). To keep food-borne pests from interfering with your summer plans by following some of these summer-specific food safety tips.

1. Start Clean and Stay Clean
The best way to keep bacteria from ruining your outing is not bring them along!

    * Clean preparation is essential. Wash hands and work areas; be sure all utensils are clean before preparing food.
    * Make sure to wash hands before eating. Bring along disposable moist towelettes or wash cloths in resealable bags if there is no running water available at your destination.

2. Keep Perishable Food Cold
    * Perishable foods, like meat, poultry, eggs and fish need to be kept below 40 degrees, so plan to keep them on enough ice in your insulated cooler to keep that temperature for the duration of your trip. (A block ice keeps longer than ice cubes.)
    * Foods to be cooked ahead should be prepared in plenty of time to cool thoroughly in the refrigerator, before they are packed in the cooler.
    * Start with cold or frozen food -- pack directly from the refrigerator to the cooler.
    * Pack foods in reverse order of how you'll eat them.
    * A full cooler stays cold longer than one that is only partially filled. Fill remaining space with more ice or with fruit and nonperishable foods.
    * Don't put the cooler in the trunk; carry it inside the air-conditioned car.

3. Follow The Two-Hour Rule
    * Perishable food should not be out for more than two hours, and no more than one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees. Food left out beyond that time isn't safe and should be discarded.
    * Place leftover grilled foods in the cooler right after grilling or serving. Any left outside for more than an hour should be discarded.
    * If you have leftovers, put perishable foods back in the cooler right after eating, don't leave them out, even under the shade.
    * If there is still ice in the cooler when you get home, and the food did not sit out for over one hour, the food is okay to save.

4. At the Beach
    * Plan some take-along foods that don't require refrigeration, like peanut butter, fruits, nuts and crackers.
    * Keep your perishables in a separate cooler from the drinks, since the drinks cooler is opened more often.
    * Keep the cooler out of the sun. Put it under your beach umbrella, partially bury it in the sand, or cover it with a blanket for further insulation.
    * Spray insect repellents away from the food.

 5. Out On the Trail
    * For weekend trips choose foods that don't require refrigeration. Pasta, instant rice, peanut butter and jelly, nuts, dried fruit, dried meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, dried soups, breads and crackers, powdered milk and fruit drinks, dehydrated foods, etc.
    * Always assume that lake, pond, stream and river waters are not safe to drink. Buy purification tablets or filtering equipment from camping supply stores and learn how to use them effectively. Bring along some bottled water.
    * Cleanliness is paramount. Bring soap for hand washing and dishwashing, or use disposable wipes to clean your hands. Wash dishes immediately, before bacteria has a chance to grow on your plates and utensils.
    * Pack carefully to use fresh foods for meals the first day. Cold or frozen, prepared foods can be packed with a cold source. Freeze water in a plastic jug and wrap it with the foods in a plastic bag, then stuff the bag inside a sleeping bag or jacket inside your backpack. This will keep the food cold while you hike.

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