What is the Definition of Irregular Warfare?

 Irregular warfare is the type of warfare conducted by irregular units. An irregular unit is not a part of any formal military organization so they don't operate according to a tactical standard operating procedure.

 The standard operating procedure is a strength for regular military units but it is also a weakness.

 Large units have to have extremely detailed instructions on how they do business so that the unit will continue to function effectively if troops are wounded or killed. New troops simply follow the established procedures which are written and the unit maintains it's level of proficiency.

The downside to this is that if irregular troops become familiar with the operation procedures they know exactly how the unit responds to different situations. This gives them the information that they need to thwart the efforts of regular units.

A good example of irregular units are the groups of fighters controlled by warlords in Somalia and Afghanistan. They would get together and fight but they had to develop tactics as they went along. As irregulars fight and survive more battles they begin to look and operate more like regulars in that they develop organization and structure. Military Tactics and Rings