How do Marines utilize the concept of "fire and movement"?

The concept of "fire and movement" is fundamental to infantry tactics and highlights the coordinated approach to engaging the enemy while maneuvering. This strategy involves one element (such as a squad or fire team) providing suppressive fire to keep the enemy's attention or to pin them down. This is essential for reducing the risk to the moving element and allowing them to reposition to a more tactical location.

In this context, the use of suppressive fire creates a protective barrier, allowing another element to advance or move without drawing immediate enemy fire. This maneuvering element can then take up a more advantageous position from which they can either continue the fight or reposition further. This tactic enhances overall operational effectiveness by combining the offensive capacity of firepower with the fluidity of movement, thereby improving the likelihood of mission success.

Other options do not align with the principles of "fire and movement." For instance, ordering a retreat does not involve offensive engagement or positioning for tactical advantage. Maintaining a stationary position focuses on observation and lacks the dynamic element necessary for offensive operation. Coordinated air support, while vital in combat, does not illustrate the direct infantry tactic of combined fire and tactical movement among ground troops.