text: Foundations of Insurgency
  established bases, both semipermanent and temporary. Base camps must be relatively safe and secure
  in areas where insurgents can rest, eat, and plan. More sophisticated guerrilla base camps have command
  posts, training areas, communications facilities, medical stations, and sustainment centers. These base
  camps, however, are not the same as conventional bases. They are usually small in overall scope, spread
  out, and sometimes underground. Insurgents try to locate base camps within insurgent-controlled areas
  where cover and concealment provide security against detection. In rural areas, base camps tend to be
  in remote areas characterized by rough, inaccessible terrain. In urban areas, base camps tend to be located
  in areas where the insurgent has popular support. Urban insurgents may rent houses for use as temporary
  base camps. Insurgents will normally avoid battling over their base camp. Once detected, they will move
  to an alternate location. Routes into a base camp will be constantly observed for security. Mines, booby
  traps, special-purpose munitions, expedient devices, and ambushes are used as standard security
  enhancements. If surprised and cornered, they will vigorously defend themselves with a delaying action
  while evacuating key personnel and equipment.
  Insurgent Training Camps
  2-79. Insurgent training camps are established both in urban and rural environments. While some
  training is accomplished at urban safe houses or rural guerrilla base camps, most training is accomplished
  at locations focused on training. This may be a special urban safe house, a remote guerrilla base camp or an
  insurgent training center in another country.
  PHASING AND TIMING
  2-80. Insurgencies often progress through three phases in their efforts. While the use of these three
  phases is common in most writings concerning insurgencies, the titles used for these three phases vary
  considerably. However, what makes up each phase remains nearly identical.
  Phase I—Latent and Incipient
  2-81. The first phase of an insurgency tends to begin with the government having stronger forces than
  the insurgents do. As a result, insurgents often must concentrate on survival and building support.
  Insurgent efforts may include—
  • Establishing and expanding the organization
  • Spreading its ideology through information operations
  • Starting or supporting antigovernment activity such as demonstrations and strikes
  • Raising funds through illegal taxation and crime
  • Organizing small, local guerrilla forces that conduct small-scale intermittent operations
  • Using terrorism and sabotage to intimidate uncooperative government officials and members
  of the population
  Phase II—Guerrilla Warfare
  2-82. The second phase of an insurgency starts when force correlations approach equilibrium
  and guerrilla warfare becomes the most important, pervasive activity. Insurgent efforts may include—
  • Increased scale of guerrilla attacks; attempt to force government forces into the defense.
  • Increased use of sabotage and terrorism.
  • Intensified propaganda.
  • Attempts to gain control of isolated geographic areas and develop bases for further operations.
  • Government officials are being driven out of areas with strong insurgent support.
  • Establishment of local shadow governments.
  • Increased efforts to gain international recognition and support.