The Timmerman Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) finished a strong second place win in the 2009 Great Lakes Region Cadet Competition held at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio on May 1-3. Eleven Milwaukee-area teens comprised the team, which competed in several categories, including in-ranks inspection, standard drill, innovative drill, panel quiz, written exam, mile run, and volleyball. 
Timmerman Composite Squadron, along with three cadets from Milwaukee Composite Squadron 5 and the 461st Composite Squadron (West Bend), won second place overall. This is the second consecutive year for the drill team to represent Wisconsin at the region level, and though they had gone with less than the normal 13 member team, they finished with a sound second place; unlike 2008 in which they tied for second place.
Despite the obstacles that were before them, the Timmerman Composite Squadron moved forward. It started with their Deputy Commander of Cadets, Captain Thomas Kondziella (MSgt, USAFR), leaving for Kuwait for a tour of duty with the United States Air Force Reserves.
The drill team commander Cadet Tech Sergeant (C/TSgt) Jennifer Waltho; a Civil Air Patrol member for just over a year, took charge of the team six weeks before competition without any prior experience of leadership. She proved herself more than capable however, and led her team with confidence. That confidence and a determination not to let anything stop them inspired the team to represent both Wisconsin and Timmerman Composite Squadron well and finish with scores higher than last year’s competition. As the Wisconsin Wing Commander, Colonel Donald Haffner stated “the drill team was only a " mouse breath" away from taking first place in the entire competition.”
The 153rd Madison Composite Squadron placed third with their five member Color Guard team. Col Haffner, stated that he “was extremely proud of both teams!!! Not only did they perform well, but the camaraderie and sportsmanship they displayed exemplified the spirit of a winning team.” Not only did both teams perform well, but they learned a lot from each other and made some life-long friends from other states.
