Which of the following is a risk associated with fire support?

The potential for fratricide is a significant risk associated with fire support. Fratricide refers to instances where friendly forces are unintentionally harmed or killed by their own fire support, such as artillery, airstrikes, or other forms of indirect fire. This risk stems from situations where the coordinates of enemy positions are misidentified or where there is a breakdown in communication among units. Fire support often operates in dynamic and complex environments, where the fog of war can lead to confusion about troop locations and enemy positions.

Understanding this risk is crucial for effective fire support operations, as it highlights the necessity of thorough planning, coordination, and the use of accurate targeting information to minimize the chances of friendly fire incidents. Measures like detailed briefing, communication protocols, and identification systems (like target marking) are implemented to mitigate this threat, but the potential remains a fundamental concern in military operations.