In October 1868, following his graduation from the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, Dominé selected the infantry as his preferred branch of the French Army. Dominé was deployed to Algeria where he was wounded in a skirmish; Dominé was appointed a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor for his conduct under fire. During the Franco-Prussian War, he was wounded a second time at the Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande.