You two got off on the wrong foot because you both interpret the phrase "NJA will start upgrades December/January" to be different things.

In the literal sense - yes, we might have some people upgrading.

To an SIC that is looking at 2 decades in the right seat, "start upgrades" means a protracted period of upgrades that could change the lifestyle, income, and career future of hundreds of people.
BUT that isn't happening, so when us SICs hear "start upgrades" we laugh bitterly, then go about the business of updating our applications.