I just started playing recently and I can'r figure out how to bump my combat level. A few helpful players told me to kill bots, but i only gain points towards light weapons. What should I do to work up my combat rating?

do missions, you take them from stations, as basic tutorials teach.

Courier mission is a perfect start, giving both combat an trade XP.

Check also http://vo-wiki.com for complete tips and tatics.