ALCF supports counter-drug ops Published Aug. 16, 2012 By 2nd Lt. Matthew Borowski 439th Airlift Control Flight WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- Two 439th Airlift Control Flight loadmasters from Westover deployed to Cherry Point, N.C. Aug. 8 to help deploy more than 175 Marines and their cargo to support counter-drug operations by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Guatemalan Police Forces. SrA. Michael Muise and SrA. Brian VanGuilder spent three days teaching and working alongside Marines from Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, N.C., Camp Lejeune, N.C., and New River MCAS, N.C. "We taught the Marines how to prepare hazardous cargo documentation, weigh and mark equipment, and complete the joint inspection process required to onload cargo onto Air Force aircraft," SrA. Muise said. "We optimized load plans which were technically OK but not acceptable for easy onload and offload of the cargo, which helps the aircrew." The two worked with aerial port personnel from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., to onload helicopters, HMMWVs, and pallets containing food and supplies and also process the Marines deploying to Guatamala. "It was great to see the impact that a small reserve team can have on real-world operations," SrA. VanGuilder said.