The 28-year-old Girls Aloud star met with servicemen and women at Camp Bastion last month and said the reality of what she was about to do really hit home when she undertook a pre-visit safety course.
“Before I went out I was given war training which was pretty full-on and quite scary,” she told The Mirror.
“They warn you about coping with all kinds of scary scenarios – things like having a gun put to your head.
“I was warned before I went out there that it could be dangerous. But nothing was going to stop me from going. And I’m just so glad I did.
“Afghanistan was an unbelievable experience. The whole trip was incredible. Since I’ve been back, it’s all anyone wants to talk to me about. The reaction has been fantastic. The men and women I met out there were inspirational, and so amazingly brave and dedicated.”
“I’ve stayed in touch with some of the troops through Twitter and they’ve been sending nice messages,” she added. “It was a privilege to see what goes on out there.”