What is necessary to ensure effective delivery of final protective fires?

To ensure effective delivery of final protective fires, effective clearing of fields of fire is crucial because this ensures that the intended area of engagement is unobstructed and that there is a clear line of sight for the fires to be delivered accurately. It prevents any obstructions that could hinder the effectiveness of the fire support, allowing for precise targeting of enemy positions while minimizing collateral damage.

Clearing fields of fire ensures that all personnel can identify targets without any obstructions, confirm the effectiveness of the protective fire, and allows for rapid responsiveness. This clarity is vital in high-stakes situations where immediate and deadly response may be necessary to protect friendly troops.

In contrast, while the positioning of automatic weapons, communication with air support, and having an ideal geographical advantage are all important aspects of fire support operations, they do not directly address the fundamental requirement of ensuring that the area being targeted is free of obstacles to allow for effective engagement. Hence, the clearing of fields of fire stands as the most critical requirement for delivering final protective fires effectively.