Suvorov Military School
He served in the Soviet Army from 1967 after graduation from Minsk Suvorov Military School. In 1971, Maltsev graduated from Kiev Higher Military Command School (cum laude). He served in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany as an infantry platoon commander. In 1972 he became a mechanized infantry company commander. In 1974 he was the commander of a motorized rifle battalion. In 1979 he graduated from Frunze Military Academy.