Meet ROTC Hunks: Dan Docimo, Joe Gildner and Matt Lillie ’19

After previously naming an ROTC hottie, I decided that the story would not be complete without interviewing at least one ROTC hunk. On a beautiful Saturday evening after an amazing win by the Irish against the Naval Midshipmen, I sat down with three ROTC guys to discuss general topics, girls and Naval Duties.

The Basics:

Name: Joe Gildner

Year: Freshmen

Dorm: Keenan

Hometown: Bainbridge island, Washington

Major: Engineering

Relationship status: single

Fun Fact: Plays the piano

Name: Matthew Lillie

Year: Freshmen

Dorm: O’neill

Hometown: Rochester, Michigan

Major: Engineering

Relationship status: single

Fun Fact: Has an identical twin

Name: Dan Docimo

Year: Freshmen

Dorm: Stanford

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Major: Political Science

Relationship status: single

Fun Fact: Does stand-up comedy

What’s your favourite physical feature in a girl?

Docimo: Personality.

Matt: Well, that’s not exactly physical.

Docimo: Technically it is, it’s in their brain cells.

Gildner: I know this is cheesy but it’s the eyes.

Docimo: SMILE.

Matt: I have to agree with Gildner, eyes.

Do you have any celebrity crushes?

Docimo: Scarlett Johansson

Matt: Taylor Swift

Gildner: Isla Fisher

Getting Serious, Navy Style:

Why did you decide to join rotc?

Matt: Family legacy and serving my country

Docimo: I want to serve… and I look good in dress blues

Gildner: serve my country and getting the opportunity to apply my technical skills

What is your favourite and least favourite part of being in ROTC?

Docimo: Least favourite part of being in ROTC is either 6 am PT (physical training) or all the love that the academy guys get during the Navy game. (smiles) I’m a little salty. My favourite part of being in ROTC is probably wearing uniforms on Wednesdays.

Matt: Yeah, wearing the uniforms you have a certain pride. I’m like “hey look at me, I’m serving my country.” My least favourite part is the pressure. If you mess up people will zero in on you on. There are higher standers for you.

Gildner: My favourite part is definitely wearing uniforms on Wednesday

How does ROTC make you different than others?

Matt: It holds you to a higher standard. You feel like you have to represent the Navy when you do stuff.

Docimo: A few people have their phones set to military time, I don’t. The main thing is when you’re wearing a uniform, you have this thing hanging over your head that you’re in the Navy. Even when you’re not in uniform you’re still representing the Navy, which isn’t always easy.

Gildner: Sometimes, you mention something about ROTC and people ask “oh you’re in ROTC” and then you’re expected to explain everything about it and you don’t know what to say.

What’s the most valuable lesson you learned from ROTC?

Matt: Accountability, dependability and to just hang in there

Docimo: This is the first time we’re being held accountable. I had stuff in high school where technically other people were counting on me, but it was usually like the marching band or glee club. It was not the US Navy, it’s a huge difference. It’s our fifth week of being midshipmen in Navy and we already have serious responsibilities.

Matt: We are already going on the field as colorguard (those people who have the flag and the rifles before athletic events.)

Gildner: The biggest lessons is to have no reservations

Matt: You’re going to get stuff wrong. You have to be able to learn from your mistakes.

To wrap things up…

What’s your favourite Notre dame landmark?

Docimo: Stanford 503*. I’m just kidding, it’s definitely touchdown jesus

Matt: the Grotto

Gildner: I like the lakes

Favourite Notre dame memory?

Gildner: Doing the alma mater with both teams in full uniform after the Naval game.

Docimo: The bus ride back from Orientation Week (O-week) when we immediately made fun of O-week and we were laughing so hard because we didn’t have to be afraid of all of the upperclassman anymore.

Gildner: They were so scary!

Docimo: We got to sit on the bus at o week and tell stories about O week about stuff that was super scary but is now hilarious to us. Oh yeah, and when I met this girl named Katie from Chicago

Gildner: Agreed.

After college and serving plans?

Matt: I plan on being a sub officer and doing Nuclear engineering, who knows though I might stay in the Navy

Docimo: I don’t know if I’m going to do the 5 year commitment or just do it until retirement. But I haven’t planned that much ahead of that. I am majoring in poly sci though because it puts you in a position to make a difference

Do you have anything else funny to say?

Docimo: Do I have anything else funny to say? Yes.

Matt: I see you driving ‘round town with the girl I love and I’m like, haiku.

Thanks for the interview midshipmen!

XOXO,

HCND

**Some facts have been changed to protect privacy of the interviewee**

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Images provided by the interviewer and the interviewees

• campus cutie