Exactly what grinstone said....
I made my first trooper 3 days ago....hes lvl 33. Only thing I dont skip is Class Story. My entire gear prep has gone to lvl 40 pvp gear and weapons. So once Im lvl 40 I can start saving for WH and BM (which is soon going bye bye). Ive spent less then....30k on gear so far, most either game from drops, missions, 1 or 2 weapons from GTN, and rest was from commendations for planets. The lower lvls dont even both, just take what the mission gives you, it will get you through