Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-139.0.72.103-20150130150846/@comment-25467429-20150205205407

It is really impossibel to know since as you said it's not addressed in the game.

I wouldn't read much into the starter plane as any number of explanations could be given for that due to the situation the game starts with.

Most of the player-characters start out as rookies or unranked, the story telling how their exploits coincide with the rise in rank. It wouldn't be surprising then if Mobius started at the lowest rank.

His final rank is likely very high due to the numerous achievements and commendations. The final mission he is in command of his own Mobius Squadron, so he likely had the rank of a high-level commander. Furthermore the after-war mission certainly suggests that he has the rank enough to be left to handle decision-making on the battlefield in attacking the remnant forces. As unlikely as it is for that to happen, it could well be that Mobius One was a General still flying combat missions by the time we see him in Operation Katina.