 Michel attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1832 passing out as a staff officer the following year.He returned to the 64th Foot before transferring to the 3rd Regiment of Foot in Bengal on 20 February 1835 and becoming Aide-de-Camp to General Sir Henry Fane there later that year.Promoted to major in the 6th Regiment of Foot on 6 March 1840, he became Commanding Officer of the 6th Foot with the rank of lieutenant colonel on 15 April 1842.