Cole Handles Gun on Afghanistan Trip

British pop star Cheryl Cole proved she's not scared to get her hands dirty during a morale-boosting trip to Afghanistan by dishing out meals to British troops and donning full combat gear for a mock gun battle.

The Girls Aloud beauty jetted to the war-torn region on Tuesday (13Sep11) to visit British soldiers posted in the country's dangerous Helmand Province.

She showed her caring side on the flight over by dishing out meals and drinks to servicemen and women flying out to start a six-month tour.

And Cole quickly learned the dangers facing British troops after landing - she was handed fatigues and a rifle to take part in a training exercise in a compound simulating a real war zone.

The singer admits she found the experience terrifying, telling Britain's Daily Mirror, "I went into the room and heard an explosion. It was scary. I was terrified. I'm not ashamed to say I screamed and uttered a few expletives".