Jardine enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduation from high school. He served in North Carolina and France, and after discharge returned to attend Drake University, graduating in 1962. A year later, bored with teaching school, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving as chief engineer on several ships. While assigned to The Citadel in South Carolina, he earned a masters degree. Dave retired in 1980 and started a heating and air conditioning business, ran it for seven years, then moved to Napa Valley. Since his arrival in the Napa Valley, Dave has completed nine tours as an instructor aboard Naval ships, teaching English for college credit.