Born 23 September 1953 in Panskoye, Kursk region, Alexey Maslov was educated at the Kharkov Higher Tank Command School. His first service tours were in the Carpathian Military District, where he served as tank platoon, company, and battalion commander. In 1984, he earned a degree at the Tank Academy and was appointed as regiment commander (1986) and, later, deputy division commander within the Central Group of Forces in Czechoslovakia. From 1990 to 1994, General Maslov served as deputy division commander, Volga-Ural Military District and, in 1994, assumed command of 15th Guards 'Mozyr' Tank Division, at Chebarkul within the same district.