You're first a Flight Commander, some promos after that you'll become squadron commander.

i noe that - its just that i got shroud earlier than i'm supposed to.

There's also a "metallic" tech rating access to the ships: bronze, silver, gold, platinum, if I'm not mistaken. Predator is bronze, IIRC. A ship is cleared for you when you have reached either the RANK (Flight Commander, Squadron Leader, etc) OR when you have reached the tech rating, whichever comes first. Allow me to congratulate you on your promotion!

i'm still on silver. the metallic rating goes up each time the carrier 'receives a new shipment of fighters consisting of - whatever' so its weird.

Well, never turn down the Shroud for an Ion Cannon mission...I would love to have it that early. Dark Reign is a pain in the butt...

Reaper: $200,000,000.
Rockets: $100,000
The look on that pilot's face when you launch a full pod of screamers up his tailpipe: priceless

still - u have to admit, its kinda weird. its like as if ur commander is giving it to u specially, so u don't 'die'