CAPE CARTERET, N.C. - Ten Marines with Alpha Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group gathered in freezing temperatures before dawn Thursday, January 23.
While early mornings and cold weather have become commonplace during this time of year, this morning wasn’t the norm. These Marines weren’t gathering for physical training or going on a hike, they were going out to help the local community.
The Marines with Alpha Co. volunteered to assist Habitat for Humanity International with homes they are building.
“We asked the Marines if they wanted to come out and help and we got a positive response,” said Gunnery Sgt. David Poole, the acting company first sergeant for Alpha Co., 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, and a Knightdale, N.C. native. “There’s a very large training value to this: They get time with the hammers and get to learn construction skills we could use [in a deployed environment] to build structures for Marines to live in, and it helps enhance their construction skills all around.”
While helping HFHI, Marines attached shingles to the roof, installed windows, and nailed tar paper and insulation to the house. They plan to attach vinyl siding the next time they’re on site, and anything else they can get their hands on.
“I absolutely love it,” said Cpl. Ivy Klawitter, a fire team leader with Alpha Co. and a Fordland, Mo. Native. “It gives me a chance to come out every once in a while and swing a hammer and do something good.”
The Marines who volunteered said that it felt good to give back to the community, and they liked being able to learn new skills while building on the skills they had already been taught in their military occupational specialty school.
“I get to learn something new almost every time I come out here,” said Klawitter. “It’s a little different than just building structures in a deployed environment; you get to put on vinyl and windows instead of screens with a wood flap over it.”