For the post 2015 batches, this is considered fast already.
In the first place, contract teaching is now longer due to limited admission dates to
NIE. Average contract teaching period is usually around 1 year.
NIE has also been extended by a few months. These actually greatly delay the promotion from GEO2 to 3. Guys wait 1 year to promote after that while girls wait for 2 years (even heard of cases whereby the "cohort promotion" is starting to get delayed for some, not sure why).
From GEO3 to 4, things become a lot more uncertain. Now it probably takes an average of 4-6 years.
From GEO4 to 5, the squeeze is even worse. The above poster could make it within 5 years or less due to getting a KP position, which are kinda non existent now unless you are a scholar or a high performer who opts for cross level deployment. Either those, or you have to be very lucky.
To compare:
Last time, GEO1.1 to GEO1A1 - 2 years (including contract +
NIE)
Now, GEO2 to GEO3 - 3.5 years (1 year contract + 1y 4mths
NIE + 1 year wait for guys. Even longer for girls)
Last time, GEO1A1 to GEO1A2 - 2 to 3 years
Now, GEO3 to GEO4 - 4 to 6 years (scholars/high performers can do so in 3 years, but I've heard many recent horror stories for people stuck for 7 years or more)
No one dares to imagine the current timeline for GEO4 to GEO5, or even GEO5 to SEO1.
Just painting a realistic idea of how things are like for aspiring or new officers. Be mentally prepared.