Search and recovery operations conclude after 10-day multinational effort spanning more than 21,000 square kilometers
The remains of a second U.S. Army soldier who went missing during joint military exercises in southwest Morocco have been recovered from a coastal cave near the Cap Draa Training Area, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa command announced Wednesday. The recovery concludes a 10-day search effort that involved more than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civil personnel and covered more than 21,300 square kilometers of sea and littoral terrain.
The soldier was identified as Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, of Tavares, Florida, an air and missile defense crewmember assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, based in Ansbach, Germany. Her recovery came less than a week after the military announced the retrieval of the remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., of Richmond, Virginia — the first of the two soldiers who had gone missing on May 2.
How the Soldiers Went Missing
Collington and Key disappeared on the evening of May 2 near the Cap Draa Training Area along Morocco’s Atlantic coastline, where they had been participating in African Lion 26 — a large multinational military exercise held annually by U.S. forces, NATO countries, and African partner nations. A U.S. military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters, told the New York Times that the two soldiers were on an evening hike at the training range when at least one of them fell from a cliff into the sea. A second official said that on the day of their disappearance, military personnel formed a human chain in an attempt to rescue the troops, but a large wave swept at least one of them into the ocean.
A Difficult and Prolonged Recovery
Collington’s remains were located and retrieved on May 12, from a coastal cave approximately 500 meters from where both soldiers were believed to have entered the ocean. According to the Army’s official statement, challenging ocean conditions, the rugged coastal terrain, and the cave’s limited accessibility complicated search and recovery operations throughout the effort. Search planners repositioned assets daily based on real-time drift analysis, weather predictions, and each platform’s operational capabilities in order to focus efforts on the highest-probability areas.
The scope of the search was substantial. U.S. Air Force para-rescue men with the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, Moroccan military mountaineers, and Moroccan Civil Protection all participated in the combined recovery effort. Search assets included unmanned aerial systems, rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, surface vessels, dive teams, mountaineering teams, and ground search elements — integrating air, land, sea, and subsurface capabilities across the operation.
Command Response
Senior military leadership issued statements acknowledging both the loss and the multinational cooperation that sustained the search. “The loss of Spc. Collington is a profound loss for the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command,” said Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. “Her recovery closes the search for our two missing Soldiers, but our commitment to caring for their Families, friends, and teammates continues. We are grateful to the U.S. and Moroccan forces for their professionalism and support throughout the search efforts.”
Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, emphasized the role of the bilateral partnership in sustaining the effort. “I can’t say enough about the extraordinary efforts of the Moroccan government, our sister services, and Allies,” Donahue said. “They were with us during a difficult time — tireless, determined, and compassionate — to aid in the search for our two missing Soldiers. Their commitment never wavered, and their willingness to do whatever it took to bring our Soldiers home to their families speaks volumes about the strength of our partnership and the character of those who serve.”
Who Spc. Collington Was
Collington entered the Regular Army’s Delayed Entry Program in 2023 before beginning active-duty service in 2024. She completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as a 14P air and missile defense crewmember. She reported to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Ansbach, Germany, in February 2025 and was promoted to specialist on May 1, 2026 — one day before she went missing.
Those who served alongside her described a soldier whose presence had a tangible effect on her unit. “Spc. Collington was an outstanding Soldier whose unwavering enthusiasm and positive spirit uplifted every environment she entered,” said Capt. Spencer Grider, commander of Charlie Battery, 5-4 ADAR. “Her infectious energy, whether in the office, in the field or among her peers, fostered connection and camaraderie, bringing people together through her genuine warmth and heartfelt sense of humor. Her presence will be greatly missed across our formation.”
Lt. Col. Chris Couch, the battalion commander of 5-4 ADAR, echoed that assessment. “Spc. Collington was a bright light in this battalion. To the Soldiers who knew her best and served alongside her each day, she was a treasured friend whose loss leaves a deep and profound void on our team,” Couch said. “As we hold her Family, friends, and teammates in our prayers, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the U.S. personnel and Moroccan partners who dedicated themselves to bringing her home.”
Repatriation and Ongoing Investigation
Following the recovery, Royal Moroccan Armed Forces transported Collington’s remains by helicopter to the morgue of Moulay El Hassan Military Hospital in Guelmim, Morocco. On the evening of May 12, Moroccan and U.S. forces conducted a dignified carry ceremony at the military airport in Guelmim, honoring both soldiers. The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. and Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington then departed Morocco aboard a U.S. Air Force C-130J, en route to the United States.
The incident remains under investigation. U.S. Army officials have said additional information will be released as it becomes available. African Lion 26 had been scheduled to involve approximately 5,000 personnel from more than 40 countries across Morocco from April 27 to May 8. Collington’s awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon. She was 19 years old.