text: Chapter 4
  capabilities to sow disorder, survive, and protract the struggle, presenting particularly difficult problems for
  counterinsurgency forces. (See paragraphs 4-88 to 4-103 for more information on networked insurgencies.)
  Organizational Elements
  4-78. The basic organizational elements of an insurgency are the movement’s leadership, guerrillas,
  auxiliary forces, and underground elements. While there are almost certainly members of the insurgency
  who perform multiple functions, grouping an insurgency into these groups provides a model of
  understanding how an insurgency functions. However, commanders and staffs must avoid the trap of mirror
  imaging an insurgency against U.S. organizational structure. These groupings help the commander
  understand groups that are involved in the various functions of an insurgency, but commanders and staffs
  need to realize that insurgencies normally do not have fixed organizational structures. (See figure 4-2.)
  Figure 4-2. Organizational elements of an insurgency
  Leadership
  4-79. An essential element of any insurgency is its leadership and its leadership structure. This can vary
  greatly and is dependent on whether the insurgency is a networked insurgency or a hierarchical insurgency.
  However, because of its importance, it is covered under the first dynamic.
  Guerilla Units
  4-80. Guerrillas are used for a wide range military purposes, but their primary purpose is to achieve a
  political end. For example, attacks on host-nation forces may undermine host-nation legitimacy among a
  population and create insurgent safe heavens. Guerrilla units can conduct small-unit tactical operations and
  can mass for larger operations. Ambushes against convoys are examples of small-unit tactics an insurgent
  group may use. These tactics have the advantage of preventing an insurgent group from becoming
  decisively engaged. As an insurgency gains military power, guerilla units increase their ability to conduct
  large scale attacks. During the final insurgency stage, war of movement, guerilla units can perform actions
  meant to destroy the host-nation military force. This can be a decisive action for an insurgency. If
  successful, a war of movement can overthrow the government or allow the insurgency to reach other
  political goals. However, if the insurgency begins a war of movement too soon, the insurgency can deplete
  its military power and undermine its political power.
  Auxiliary Forces
  4-81. Auxiliary forces are the insurgency’s support elements. Anyone involved in an insurgency can
  perform logistic functions, and insurgents are probably involved in both logistics and combat. Creating this
  division, however, groups certain essential functions of an insurgency in a single category.