Initial work

Well, should it though? If we are going to use async with an associated latch etc, what's the difference between that and just waiting? Doesn't it ultimately amount to the same thing? There are no other threads at work at this point as it's JEE so one request, one thread. 

Further, the method is already synchronized, so we are going to be waiting anyway. I don't see the value in adding the logic to do async when really we are going to be waiting on the latch anyway. Seems to accomplish the same thing to me.