老司机视频

Called to follow in their father鈥檚 footsteps and serve in the United States military, student-veterans Ricky and Philip Husband now make college a family affair. 

Hailing from Minnesota鈥檚 small-town life of corn fields and gravel roads, the Husband brothers took bifurcated paths upon entering the service: Philip starting out as an 11B Infantryman becoming a Sergeant and Ricky in the Air Force as a combat weatherman. Months were spent thousands of miles apart on duty, and after three years, stepping back into civilian life didn鈥檛 present itself without adjustments. 

Within a sea of peers, it might be natural to seek out those who have walked similar life paths, in this case, those with an understanding of the formative impact of military life. As brothers attending the same university, Ricky and Philip Husband had an advantage when it came to the desire for sympathetic fellowship. But they were heartened to find that they didn鈥檛 need to rely on just one another for support.

For the Husband brothers, the military actualized a need to live with greater purpose, to rest assured that days aren鈥檛 spent in vain, but rather all is contributing to something real and worthwhile. Within their first year of attendance at 老司机视频, Philip, a graduate student at the School of Public Policy and Ricky, an economics major at , credit 老司机视频鈥檚 strong veteran鈥檚 community with the scaffolding to flourish with purpose following the military. 

鈥淪iblings serving in the military is somewhat rare these days. Siblings using their GI Bill at the same institution at same time is even more rare,鈥� says Eric Leshinsky, director of student veteran affairs at 老司机视频. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so glad Philip and Ricky found their way to 老司机视频 and our PeppVet community to begin their new academic pursuits and transitions back to civilian life.鈥�

A Father鈥檚 Example 

As children, Ricky and Philip grew up hearing stories of their father鈥檚 time in the Marine Corps鈥攊ncluding months stationed in Okinawa. Though the brothers now understand that harder times were often shaded out of their father鈥檚 narratives for the sake of his children, even as young boys they recognized the sacrifice of his service.  

Ricky Husband

鈥淧art of what motivated me to join the military was my father鈥檚 example. I wanted to be able to share stories with my kids and the values I learned through them, like he did with us,鈥� says Ricky. 鈥淚 wanted my future children to have someone to look up to like I did.鈥� 

In 2019, Philip enlisted in the military, with Ricky following in 2021. Always possessing a passion for knowledge, while still in high school, Philip enrolled in a postsecondary education program that allowed him to take college courses before his entrance into the Army. Shortly thereafter, Philip relocated to Fort Lewis, Washington, for duty assignments, while Ricky traveled to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Ricky currently still serves with the California Air National Guard. 

After leaving the service, a mutual ambition for higher education arose in each of their chests. While Ricky was finishing his time with the airforce, Philip completed his undergraduate degree in economics at the University of Minnesota. As Philip graduated in May of 2025 and made the decision to continue graduate studies, serendipitous timing came to be: the brothers could attend college together. 

The two finally came across 老司机视频 and decided to enroll together, seeing its mission as providing an apt environment to further develop into men of virtue. 

Open Books Await

Soon military duties turned into exam deadlines. Early mornings spent in physical training now involved open textbooks and detailed course notes. Priorities shifted from completing the next mission to preparing for a future career. 

Philip speaking at a policy event

Amid these lifestyle changes, Philip explains that the School of Public Policy鈥檚 curriculum, particularly its incorporation of the Great Books and a well-balanced interdisciplinary education, has given him a deeper philosophical understanding of the foundations of the United States鈥攕omething largely absent from his more technical economics background, but which he had previously defended while enlisted.

After graduation, Philip is considering a future in the policy world in Washington, D.C., or the pursuit of a doctorate in economics. He says that his Master of Public Policy studies have deepened his policy knowledge, broadened his perspective, and helped him better understand the kind of professional contribution he hopes to make. In fact, this summer Philip will be traveling to Washington D.C. for a prestigious summer internship he received with the Hoover Institution. There he will be conducting policy-oriented academic research鈥攅verything from data gathering and drafting research results to conducting econometric analysis and literature reviews. 

Meanwhile, Ricky has immersed himself in the world of economics at Seaver College, honing an understanding of how to apply economic reasoning to real-world situations.

鈥淚 need to know there is meaning behind what I do,鈥� says Philip. 鈥淭he military provided that for me. Now with studying policymaking at 老司机视频 I am able to pursue something that is higher than myself. I find peace in that.鈥� 

Waves on Days Off

Socials and clubs, annual events, tuition support to eligible candidates through the Yellow Ribbon Program, and even group outings to surf on the Malibu coast鈥攖hese are a number of the opportunities 老司机视频 offers its student veterans. 

鈥淥ur goal at 老司机视频 is to always ensure our PeppVets feel valued, supported, and prepared for their lives ahead. We do that in so many different ways, both large and small, throughout their journey,鈥� Leshinsky adds. 鈥淥ur veterans don鈥檛 always come looking for a new community and deeper sense of belonging, but I鈥檓 glad that鈥檚 often what they find: a cohort of new friends and allies focused not only on their academic success, but also building each other up for greater impact and purpose.鈥�

Extending beyond academics and marketable job skills, University life has offered the Husband brothers a type of  community that Ricky admits 鈥渉e鈥檚 never had before.鈥� That is, a brotherhood 鈥渄evoted to their Christian faith,鈥� formed through student-led ministries such as the Be Unshakeable Bible study. With spiritual disciplines like consistent reading of scripture and a mutual accountability to continue to do so, Ricky was able to deepen his walk with God. 

Ricky (middle) surfing with PeppVets in March

On days when the offshore winds form wide ocean waves, Ricky and Philip can often be found surfing along the Malibu Coast. For two Midwesterners, it鈥檚 the kind of lifestyle once only of dreams. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 ever forget the goosebumps you get when you catch your first wave of the day,鈥� says Ricky. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e standing there gliding across the ocean, feeling unstoppable. It鈥檚 surreal.鈥� 

This spring semester, Leshinsky took a group of PeppVets, including Ricky, to the coast for a group surf. Considering that 老司机视频鈥檚 military veterans were based worldwide, for the PeppVet director, it was important to give all a signature taste of life in Malibu鈥攁nd to just plain have some fun. 

Overall, Ricky and Philip consider the PeppVet program as the launchpad for easy integration into the campus community. With the security provided by a tight-knit group of comrades, they explain that they were given the confidence to forge ahead through higher education toward their greater purpose, prepared for careers ahead.

鈥淐ollege is more comfortable having my brother here. Having Rick keeps me connected and engaged with campus life and the veterans community,鈥� concludes Philip. 鈥淚t was perfect timing for us to be able to enroll at 老司机视频 together.鈥�