RismadarVoice Reporters
May 11, 2026
The United States Army has confirmed the recovery of the remains of a missing soldier who disappeared during military exercises in Morocco, while search efforts continue for a second servicemember still unaccounted for.
The deceased soldier has been identified as 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old Defence Artillery officer who went missing alongside another U.S. soldier during a recreational hike while off duty.
According to military authorities, the two soldiers fell off a cliff near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan during the ongoing African Lion exercise, an annual multinational military training programme.
Their disappearance was reported on May 2, prompting a large-scale search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco, and allied partner nations.
The United States Army Europe and Africa said Key’s remains were discovered by a Moroccan military search team in the Atlantic Ocean on May 9 at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time, about one mile from where the soldiers were last seen.
Search teams deployed naval vessels, helicopters, drones, and ground units in an extensive effort to locate both missing servicemembers.
Military officials confirmed that operations are ongoing to locate the second soldier, with U.S. personnel remaining in Morocco even after the conclusion of the exercises to support continued search efforts.
Key was assigned to the 5th Battalion,4th Defence Artillery Regiment under the 10th Army Air and Missile Defence Command. He joined the U.S. Army in 2023, earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024, and later completed advanced training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
The African Lion exercise, which involves more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 countries, is one of the largest joint military drills conducted by the United States in Africa, spanning Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal.
Military authorities have not released further details on the circumstances of the incident as investigations and search operations continue.
