 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Stephens akadzidziswa paRoyal Military College, Sandhurst, kubva kwaakatumirwa muRifle Brigade saMutevedzeri wechipiri musi wa9 Kubvumbi 1890. Akakwidziridzwa kuva lieutenant musi wa 13 Kukadzi 1892 uye kaputeni musi wa 26 Chikunguru 1897. Akashanda kuMatabeleland muHondo yechipiri yeMatabele muna 1896-1897 uye muNile Expeditionra1898. Kubva pakupera kwa1899 akashanda muSouth Africa muHondo yechipiri yeBoer ya1899-1902, panguva yaakakuvara zvakaipisisa, akataura katatu mumatare kusanganisira 25 Kubvumbi 1902 nekuda kwekubudirira kwake kurwisa Boer laager ya25 Ndira 1901, uye nebasa rakanaka revanhu, akasimudzirwa brevet major musi wa29 Mbudzi 1900, uye akagamuchira Mambokadzi weSouth Africa Medal ane zvigunwe zvitatu uye Mambokadzi weMambo ane zvigunwe zviviri. Mushure mekupera kwehondo, akabva kuPort Natal paSS Malta mukupera kwaGunyana 1902, pamwe nevamwe maofficial nevarume ve2nd battalion Rifle Brigade avo vakaendeswa kuEgypt. 