I am a patient boy. I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait. - Fugazi

Waiting on my security clearance.

There's nothing major to report, but a few small things have happened.

1.  About three weeks ago, I had a follow up call from one of my security investigators.  He wanted to know some more details of my foreign travel.  He had submitted my report, and it was bounce back by the case manager for more detail.  It took about 10 minutes on the phone.  I couldn't take the call immediately and had to ask the investigator to call me back.  For that 20 minute interlude, it was difficult to keep my mind from inventing drastic scenarios.

2.  On the medical front, last week I called my insurance company to see why I hadn't gotten a bill yet for the chest x-ray.  I had received an explanation of benefits showing that I was responsible for the bill, but hadn't received the bill.  They explained that I'd get the bill from the provider, GW Hospital.  A few days later, I got an email from State's medical area telling me that they had approved payment for the x-ray.

State had given me a document to give GW when I got my x-ray, which told them to bill State for anything denied by my insurance.  I just didn't really expect it to work.  Everything about my experience with the medical clearance in DC has been positive.  I'm happy with my choice to trek down there for the procedures.

3.  My resolve to be patient is being tested.  The average OA passer gets security clearance about four months after the OA.  Some get it sooner, some take much longer.  Early December would be four months for me, so I had resolved to turn off the security clearance section of my brain until then.  Recently however, I have read multiple posts on a forum for candidates (A-100 Yahoo group), where the candidate has very similar milestone dates to me and has just received security clearance.  It's hard not to get excited.

4.  Last week, I sent an email to State's security clearance group to ask for an update.  I was told that my investigation is complete, and is now pending adjudications for final review.  As with other parts of this process, some people make it through adjudication in a week, while others wait in limbo for several months.  I put a reminder in my calendar to send another update request next week.

I'm hoping for a good result from that update. 

It seems like I'm getting close.