does this 4 yr SO to JFO apply to the icadets?
or to everyone joining cathay?
Everybody joining Caffay now is an "Cadet", AE or not. The time to upgrade will be the same, if you can keep up high standards during your S/O time.
Soon they will be hiring DEFO's. Maybe even DEC's. Your upgrade may even take longer than the advertised 4 years due to you being bypassed so early on in your career.