Erten participated in Cyprus Peace Operation in 1974 and was assigned as F-104S pilot at the 4th MJB 142nd Squadron between 1975 and 1979.

After completing his education in US Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) and Academic Instructor School (AIS) between 1988 and 1989, he was again assigned to TURAF Headquarters Personnel Department as Head of Personnel Management Section for two years.

After three years of service in NATO, he was commissioned as Chief of Inspection and then as Chief of Operations at the 12th Air Transportation Main Base until 1997 and assigned to Turkish General Staff Logictics Department as Head of Plans Branch.

In 2003 he was promoted to major general and assigned as Chief of Staff, Air Logictics Command for three years.

In August 2013, Mehmet Erten was succeeded by General Akın Öztürk as the Turkish Air Force Commander.