text: Foundations of Insurgency
  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
  phases of an insurgency.