Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of grazing fire?

Grazing fire is a type of fire used in tactical situations where the bullets travel close to the ground and are effective against targets at or near the ground level. One of the key characteristics of grazing fire is that the trajectory of the bullets does not rise above a specific height, typically around 1.8 meters above the ground. This ensures that the fire can effectively target personnel or equipment that are on or near the surface.

The options referencing the placement of grazing fire highlight its tactical utility: it can be placed on the flank to cover an approach or employed in a way that creates intersecting lanes of fire to maximize coverage and effectiveness against threats. These tactics allow for a greater chance of hitting targets without risking friendly fire.

However, when discussing grazing fire, it is important to note that it is designed to operate close to ground level and not above the target, making the choice of directly above the target level inconsistent with the defining nature of grazing fire. Therefore, this characteristic does not align with the established principles of grazing fire, emphasizing why it is the correct answer for what does not belong.