What does a soldier raise to signal they are ready to fire?

In military operations, when a soldier raises their right hand above their head, it serves as a clear and standardized visual signal indicating they are prepared to engage or fire. This gesture is easily recognizable from a distance, minimizes confusion in a chaotic environment, and ensures that other members of the team or unit can see the intent to fire without misinterpretation.

Raising their weapon, while it may indicate readiness, could be misinterpreted during times of heightened tension in a combat atmosphere and might not be as visible to others. Similarly, raising a left hand or helmet would not be as universally understood or standardized as a right hand raised above the head for signaling readiness to fire, which is pivotal for maintaining operational clarity in complex scenarios.