To OP,

First good job for asking for advice buddy, most players have their egos so large they fail to ask good questions and usually end up just quitting the game.

I highly suggest a mic in this game, team work is a must to get better and it also makes the game more fun to chat with your fellow dust bunnies.

Also as a suggestion, may I give you my build for AR players, it may help.

2 shield extenders, you already have shield regen so I don't personally use more regen of shields but I like to have a lot of shields when I play. In the other slots depending on your CPU/PG you can use a militia armor repair. As armor itself does not repair itself like shields do.

+1 to all the players suggesting to get weaponry up to lvl 5, great suggestion.

Stick to cover, don't be in the open. If you are in the open, you are open to multiple directions of fire coming at you, but if you stay near cover you can take cover when you get fired upon and that gives you time to figure out what direction the fire is coming and also to save your armor/shields for the fire fight.

Move with players, find a few guys stay near them but not in front of them.

Good advice, if you see two players going at each other in a 1vs1 duel, don't be that guy and still a players kill to pad your stats.

If nothing else, please add me to your in game contacts send me a group invite, Ill be glad to chat and play a few rounds and observe your fighting style so I may offer tips.

Stay strong fellow dust bunny, we all were in your shoes at one time, but we stay calm and chived on to get better.