After a chance encounter with King Frederick William I, whom Stutterheim liked, he was admitted to the Berlin Cadet corps in 1729. From 1732 he entered the "Regiment Kröcher zu Fuss" as a flag-bearer. In 1735, he was promoted to ensign and in 1739, to second lieutenant. As such, he went to the First Silesian War and at the Battle of Mollwitz, Stutterheim demonstrated his command abilities and a keen sense of the battlefield. Always ready to encourage initiative in his officers, Frederick awarded him the Order of Pour le Mérite, and gave him a position at the cathedral in Cammin, and a captaincy in a company in the Regiment La Motte zur Fuss. Stutterheim then fought in the battles of Chotusitz, Hohenfriedberg, and Soor, where, he was wounded.