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Right now, somewhere on Earth, there is a team of United States Special Forces doing recon in an isolated area. It is an elaborate plan, methodic to a flaw, discussed down to the most finite detail. Soldiers, while not making a sound, are walking through a jungle, or maybe dropping over the skies of Grenada, perhaps Russia. The operational plan might include capturing a warlord or conducting reconnaissance for a future invasion. And through all of the military precision, and the many people who know enough about the operation to pull off a successful mission, the world at large has no idea.

So, if the details of a highly-covert, specialized military operation are so easy to contain, why can't people pull off a surprise party? It's simple. Unless there is the threat of a lawsuit, or a risk to national security, people love to talk. And when trying to keep something a surprise, the need to spill the details seem too tempting to stop. But there are ways.

Planning for a surprise party is the same as any other party. There is no need for panic. But when privileged information is involved, there is a tendency to go overboard in planning. Not to mention the nervous vibe that party planners give off with every breath they take. Thus, the same steps taken to contain the secret also end up killing the element of surprise.

So calm down and act naturally. Maintain military silence when it comes to party details. But don't treat the guest of honor differently, as if he or she is the leader of a communist country. After all, the goal is to have a fun time, not to seep into an enemy compound to release hostages. But the principles that the armed forces follow in planning and carrying out operations are the same principles that need to be applied when planning a surprise party.

Tell only those that need to know. Pick one meeting area to discuss details. Agree to only talk about the party at this particular location on the designated meeting dates. As ideas flow through the minds of the party planners, they should be written down and discussed appropriately at the proper time, no matter how tempting it is to pick up the phone and blab.

Plan everything that does not need a guest count. Then invite people. But be careful here. Don't exclude the people that should be at the party, however, use discretion. Swearing guests to silence doesn't always work. People break promises to talk. Minimize the advance notice of the party to no more than one to two weeks prior to the event.

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