The Art of Crossing Water

Now one might think the easiest way to cross water would be to stand on the shore and yell mean things at it, similar in the way that beavers damn the river. Hyuck, thank you Acme.
On the serious side, crossing creeks and streams would seem a straight forward enough process: cross quickly, safely, and with the sole intent of remaining dry. Ah, but welcome to Afghanistan, where the Gowardesh river valley is the only way to get anywhere. This entails crossing said river 8 or 20 times depending on the point man's mood. Here are some of the ways to cross the water:
1. Follow the point man like sheep - "look, here's a waterfall, fast moving current, can't see the bottom, an ideal spot don't you think." Baaah
2. Guy in front is daydreaming about being in the Bahamas, goes traipsing through knee deep water, everybody follows. Again like sheep, only more stupid.
3. Guy in front of you has seen Superman Returns to many times, and tries to fly across the stream... and fails. Guy behind with a pocket full of kryptonite chuckles, till he too winds up in the drink.
4. Make like the locals and try to jump from boulder to boulder. Simple enough, that is if you weren't carrying 10 lbs armor, 40 lbs gear, etc.
5. Cross at the bridge - course by bridge I mean the tree branch lodged between boulders. Or much better, the 8x2 balanced precariously across the only rapids in the sight.
6. Or make like Sgt 'Geronimo' and ignore all the above options, and just fall in, then swim to the other side. Way to go Surefoot.

Thanks for the warm wishes on Memorial Day. Love to you all.