NORTH POLE — Vantage Point Consulting was tasked with helping Santa prepare for this year’s global gift delivery operation, dubbed “Sleigh It 2024”. After a successful operation delivering gifts to 2.2 billion children worldwide, VPC assisted with the After Action Report. A copy of this is provided below to assist others with similar global operations.
After Action Report
Operation Name: Sleigh It 2024
Date: December 25, 2024
Participants:
- Santa Claus (Commander)
- Rudolph & Reindeer Squadron
- Elf Logistics Team (ELT)
- Mrs. Claus (Support Coordinator)
- Dwight Frost (Santa Security), Joel Heavner (Santa Health), Mary Kay Hood (Santa Marketing), Jamey Burrows (Santa HazMat), Bill Wallace (Santa Safety), Troy Jester (Elf Support)
Executive Summary
Operation Sleigh It 2024 was successfully completed, delivering gifts to 2.2 billion children worldwide. Minor incidents included one sleigh breakdown, two airspace violations, and a chimney incident involving an unexpectedly aggressive raccoon. All objectives were met with a 99.99% delivery accuracy rate. Lessons learned emphasize the need for better carrot management and anti-raccoon protocols.
Background
Objective: Deliver gifts globally within a 24-hour window.
Scope: Worldwide. All age groups 0–17 on the “Nice” list.
Timeline of Events
- 0001 Hours: Sleigh departure from the North Pole.
- 0315 Hours: First delivery in Oceania.
- 0610 Hours: Reindeer refused to land on rooftop due to excessive inflatable decorations (Texas, USA).
- 1230 Hours: Chimney raccoon incident in London.
- 2400 Hours: Sleigh return to North Pole.
Performance Assessment
Successes:
- All gifts delivered on time.
- Improved cookie-to-milk ratio from last year (8:1).
- No air traffic control incidents despite flying over restricted zones.
Areas for Improvement:
- Blitzen ate one too many carrots, causing mid-flight turbulence.
- Rudolph’s nose required three battery recharges, resulting in minor delays.
Key Issues and Challenges
- Inflatable Obstacle Overload: High density of holiday decorations on rooftops led to operational inefficiencies.
- Raccoon Incident: The raccoon defended the chimney aggressively, causing Santa to reroute and use the front door.
- Snowstorm over Canada: Deviation in route due to extreme weather, resulting in a 20-minute delay.
Lessons Learned
- Implement anti-raccoon devices for chimneys. Investigate investments in nets on a stick.
- Reduce reindeer carrot intake pre-flight to avoid in-flight digestive issues.
- Develop new “Sleigh Stealth Mode” technology for flying over military zones without triggering radar alerts.
Recommendations
- Equip the sleigh with GPS and anti-obstacle technology.
- Train reindeer for high-pressure situations involving inflatable Santas and snow globes.
- Allocate resources for improved chimney reconnaissance.
Supporting Data
- Cookies Consumed: 1.5 billion
- Milk Drunk: 1.2 billion gallons
- Stockings Filled: 2.2 billion
- Chimneys Accessed: 1.8 billion
- Front Doors Used: 400 million
Conclusion
Operation Sleigh It 2024 was a resounding success, with only minor hiccups. Continuous improvement in reindeer training and rooftop navigation systems will ensure even smoother operations in 2025.
Filed By:
Santa Claus, Commander-in-Chief, North Pole Operations
Mrs. Claus, Executive Support Coordinator
Vantage Point Consulting, lead planning and AAR consultants
Want to give your team the same expertise as Santa? Talk to VPC today about trainings, exercises, and report planning that can help you in 2025 and beyond. Contact us today to start a conversation.
