A flatbed trailer isn’t something most of us would get excited about, but the Iowa National Guard held a ceremony this morning to accept the first of 120 new drop-deck trailers. Guard spokesman Colonel Robert King says the 1168th Transportation Company, based in Red Oak, is the first unit in the nation to get the new trailers. King says there are several reasons why the unit was singled out. King says a lot of it has to do with the unit’s readiness and mobilization ability, and they have a “tremendous training record,” which is part of why they’re on active duty right now in the Persian Gulf. King says the 1168th also was one of the units that took part in the research and development of the trailer. King says it’s a big honor for this Guard unit to be getting them first — in front of every other Guard unit in the nation. While the 40-foot-long flat-bed-style trailers aren’t anything the casual observer would notice as being new and improved, King says they’re both. The trailer can be used to haul all sorts of equipment, ammunition, water, food, clothing, whatever the troops in the field need. The 1168th currently has about 150 members on duty overseas — it’s based in Red Oak with detachments in Perry and Audubon. Today’s 9 A.M. ceremony was held at Camp Dodge.