PeppVet Brothers Ricky and Philip Husband Find More Family at College
Called to follow in their father’s footsteps and serve in the United States military, student-veterans Ricky and Philip Husband now make college a family affair.
Hailing from Minnesota’s small-town life of corn fields and gravel roads, the Husband brothers took bifurcated paths upon entering the service: Philip in the Army as a 11B Infantryman 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’t 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’t 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’t spent in vain, but rather all is contributing to something real and worthwhile. Within their first year of attendance at Pepperdine, Philip, a graduate student at the School of Public Policy and Ricky, an economics major at Seaver College, credit Pepperdine’s strong veteran’s community with the scaffolding to flourish following the military.
“Siblings 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,” says Eric Leshinsky, director of student veteran affairs at Pepperdine. “We’re so glad Philip and Ricky found their way to Pepperdine and our PeppVet community to begin their new academic pursuits and transitions back to civilian life.”
A Father’s Example
As children, Ricky and Philip grew up hearing stories of their father’s time in the Marine Corps—including months stationed in Okinawa. Though the brothers now understand that harder times were often shaded out of their father’s narratives for the sake of his children, even as young boys they recognized the sacrifice of his service.
“Part of what motivated me to join the military was my father’s example. I wanted to be able to share stories with my kids and the values I learned through them, like he did with us,” says Ricky. “I wanted my future children to have someone to look up to like I did.”
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 Pepperdine University 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’s curriculum, particularly its blend of graduate Great Books courses and a well-balanced interdisciplinary education, has given him a deeper philosophical understanding of the foundations of the United States—something 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—everything 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.
“I need to know there is meaning behind what I do,” says Philip. “The military provided that for me. Now with studying policymaking at Pepperdine I am able to pursue something that is higher than myself. I find peace in that.”
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—these are a number of the opportunities Pepperdine offers its student veterans.
“Our goal at Pepperdine 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,” Leshinsky adds. “Our veterans don’t always come looking for a new community and deeper sense of belonging, but I’m glad that’s 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.”
Extending beyond academics and marketable job skills, University life has offered the Husband brothers a type of community that Ricky admits “he’s never had before.” That is, a brotherhood “devoted to their Christian faith,” 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’s the kind of lifestyle once only of dreams. “You can’t ever forget the goosebumps you get when you catch your first wave of the day,” says Ricky. “You’re standing there gliding across the ocean, feeling unstoppable. It’s surreal.”
This spring semester, Leshinsky took a group of PeppVets, including Ricky, to the coast for a group surf. Considering that Pepperdine’s military veterans were based worldwide, for the PeppVet director, it was important to give all a signature taste of life in Malibu—and 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.
“College is more comfortable having my brother here. Having Rick keeps me connected and engaged with campus life and the veterans community,” concludes Philip. “It was perfect timing for us to be able to enroll at Pepperdine together.”