 In 1978, Eşref Bitlis was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed commander of the 2nd Commando Brigade in Bolu, a mountain warfare specialized unit.After becoming a Major General in 1978, he assumed the command of the 28th Infantry Division, headquartered in the Paşaköy village of Nicosia, Cyprus.In 1986, he advanced to the rank of a Lieutenant General.