FORT BENNING, Ga. (March 6, 2013) -- Despite the cold weather, Soldiers and community volunteers hammered away on three houses for Habitat for Humanity Saturday.

The Maneuver Captains Career Course and L Troop, 2nd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, 316th Cavalry Brigade, worked on separate projects.

Each cycle, community service is a requirement for both classes, said Soldiers who organized the project.

Capt. Chip Greer of Winston-Salem, N.C., said he and the others enjoyed working with their hands and building so it was a good project to do.

"I have experience doing Habitat for Humanity back home," said 2nd Lt. Mark Herter of Columbus, Ind., who is part of ABOLC. "So we got in contact with the local organization here, found some homes that needed some work and we all came out."

Each class that goes through the Armored Basic Leader Course also does a community service project, Herter said.

"I get a lot of satisfaction out of building something for someone else that's going to hopefully give them a better life -- give their kids a better life," Herter said.

It's also a way for Fort Benning to support Columbus by helping the less fortunate, said Maj. Joe Black of Biloxi, Miss., and the small group leader for the MCCC class.

"You hear so much nowadays of the community thanking the military for our service," said 2nd Lt. Jonathan Gitter of Boerne, Texas, who is part of ABOLC. "So it's good for me to give back that respect as well, to say "thank you for supporting us.'"

Both teams spent their time working on the roofs of the houses, as well as siding, Greer said.

"All of us as second lieutenants, we're all together in one place right now but after this class gets over with we're all going to disperse and go to different places," Herter said. "So hopefully, we can all take this experience to different geographical locations, posts -- wherever we end up -- and maybe keep it going there."

Habitat for Humanity is an international, nonprofit organization dedicated to building or renovating homes for those who are inadequately sheltered, according the Columbus Habitat for Humanity website. For more information about Columbus' Habitat for Humanity and how to help, visit www.columbusareahabitat.com.