Insurgent organizations vary considerably, but are typically made up of five elements supported by a military wing and a political wing. The proportions of each element depend upon insurgent strategy and the degree of active support obtained from the populace. If the existing government presence is eliminated in any particular area, these elements can exist openly. If the HN government presence is strong in a particular area, the elements of an insurgency will maintain a clandestine existence. The five elements of an insurgency are— leaders, guerrillas, underground, auxiliaries, and mass base (Figure 2-3).
Figure 2-3. Organizational elements of an insurgency.
LEADERS
2-4. Leaders provide direction to the insurgency. They are the “idea people” and the planners. They usually exercise leadership through force of personality, the power of revolutionary ideas, and personal charisma. Generally, they convey the ideology of the insurgency into objectives and direct the military efforts of the guerrillas. In some insurgencies, they may hold their position through religious, clan, or tribal authority.
2-5. Leaders who form the political core of the insurgency are often called the political leaders. They are actively engaged politically in the struggle to accomplish the goals of the insurgency. They may also make up a formal political party to signify their political importance. These political leaders are the driving force behind propaganda. Insurgencies based on religious extremism usually include religious and spiritual advisors among their political cadre.
2-6. At a tactical level, units may identify leaders as IED cell leaders; political, religious, or social leaders who direct the propaganda and nonviolent efforts of the insurgency; or as business leaders who provide extensive resource support to the insurgency, and other roles.
GUERRILLAS
2-7. A guerrilla is any insurgent who uses a weapon of any sort and does the actual fighting for the insurgency. They may conduct acts of terror, guerrilla warfare, criminal activities, or conventional operations. They are often mistaken for the movement or insurgency itself; but they are merely the foot soldiers of the movement or insurgency. Guerrillas vary widely in size, make-up, tactics, and methods from one insurgency to another. They even vary widely within an insurgency, especially in each of the three
2-8. Guerrillas may continue in their normal positions in society and lead clandestine lives for the insurgent movement. Guerrillas tend to organize themselves based upon the activity they will be conducting. Those focused on using terrorism usually operate individually or in small cells and are often armed with explosives instead of weapons. Guerrilla bands, historically, have lived in remote areas and conducted raids on HN government infrastructure. Historical examples of guerrillas include the Maquis in World War II France, the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War and the Mahdi Army in Iraq.
UNDERGROUND
2-9. The underground is a cellular organization of active supporters of the insurgency, which may contain an element that works in the HN government. Keeping the nature of their work for the insurgency secret is often paramount to them. They are more engaged than the auxiliaries are and may at times be guerrillas, if they use weapons or conduct combat operations. They operate in all areas; especially in areas denied to any established guerrilla force and where operations are not suitable for guerrilla forces. They conduct clandestine, covert, and overt operations, sometimes infiltrating the HN government. Members of the underground often continue in their normal positions in society, but lead second, clandestine lives for the insurgent movement. Some insurgencies are unique in that they conduct most of their political activities inside the underground while a different section trains recruits, maintains propaganda, and helps in population control. The underground may—
• Spread propaganda.
• Support sabotage, assassination and subversion. • Support intelligence and counterintelligence operations. • Run safe houses.
• Provide transportation.
• Manufacture and maintain arms and explosives.
AUXILIARIES
2-10. An auxiliary is the support element of the insurgency. Auxiliaries are active sympathizers who provide important logistical services but do not directly participate in combat operations. If they participate in guerrilla activities, they become guerrillas. Auxiliaries may work full time or part time for the insurgency and generally conduct safer activities than the underground. They often include women, children and other individuals that tend to be less scrutinized by counterinsurgent forces. Examples of auxiliaries include shepherds or street merchants that may openly operate near a counterinsurgent base and provide intelligence on that site. Examples of support that auxiliaries provide include—
• Store weapons and supplies. • Perform courier operations.
• Provide passive intelligence collection.
• Give early warning of counterinsurgent movements. • Acquire funds from lawful and unlawful sources. • Provide forged or stolen documents.
• Promote and facilitate desertion of security forces. • Recruit and screen new members.
• Create and spread propaganda. • Provide medical support.
• Manufacture and maintain equipment.
MASS BASE
2-11. The mass base consists of the population of the state who are sympathetic to the insurgent movement. This sympathy varies between the specific elements within the population such as religious and ethnic groups and within those specific elements themselves. This mass base, by default, passively
supports the insurgency. As occasions arise, they may provide active support. Leaders often recruit members of the mass base, who are more actively oriented, to serve as auxiliaries, underground or guerrillas. Mass base members are the true silent supporters of the insurgency and are often the most available for the HN government to positively influence.
EXAMPLE
2-12. Although no two insurgencies or insurgent organizations are alike, they still have elements that can be identified and some form of hierarchy. Figure 2-4 shows an example insurgent organization with a developed structure. In this insurgency, the underground finances the insurgency.
Figure 2-4. Example insurgent organization.