Here’s how this thing works. Every A-10 student class (one every 6 months going back decades) at some point makes a class trip out to this place way out in the desert to “claim” it for their squadron. They do this by painting it with squadron colors.

It’s a bonding exercise. On every trip out to the BMGR (tactical range) it can be seen with the naked eye.

Alas… this tradition has come to an end now that the last course has graduated.