Recovery of Missing Officer Advances Search for Second Soldier
Body of missing officer recovered in Morocco; search for second soldier ongoing.
Event / Disaster
African Lion 26 Exercise Soldiers Missing
U.S. Army personnel missing during African Lion 26 joint military exercise in Morocco involving over 5,000 personnel from 40+ nations. One soldier found deceased, another remains missing.
4 reported locations
Daily activity
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2026-08-17 to 2026-11-14 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 11 May, 00:15 UTC
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What happened
Search operation for second missing U.S. soldier continues in Morocco
Search and rescue efforts for the second U.S. soldier remain ongoing following the recovery of 1st Lt. Key's remains. Over 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civil personnel have been involved in the search operation. Moroccan forces provided mountaineering and dive teams, unmanned aircraft systems operators, aircraft, and maritime assets to support the combined search effort.
Two U.S. soldiers went missing during African Lion 26 military exercise in Morocco
Two U.S. service members went missing on May 2 during African Lion 26, an annual joint military exercise hosted by Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. The Moroccan portion of the exercise, which began on April 27, involved approximately 5,000 personnel from more than 40 nations and over 30 U.S.-based industry partners. The exercise aims to strengthen interoperability among U.S. forces, NATO Allies, and African partner nations.
Body of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. recovered in Morocco
The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, of Richmond, Virginia, were recovered along the shoreline near Cap Draa Training Area in southwestern Morocco on May 9 at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time, about one mile from where he was reported missing on May 2. Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and served as a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer and platoon leader.
Two US soldiers went missing during recreational hike near Cap Draa Training Area on May 2
Two U.S. Army soldiers disappeared on May 2 after falling off a cliff into the Atlantic Ocean during a recreational sunset-watching hike near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco. One soldier who could not swim fell into the water first; the second soldier jumped in to attempt a rescue but was hit by a wave. Other soldiers attempted a belt-chain rescue but were unsuccessful.
1st Lt. Key received Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon
1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. earned various military decorations including the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon during his service. Before joining the military in 2023, he received a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Methodist University in North Carolina, where he completed minors in international business, entrepreneurship, and business administration.
Search-and-rescue operation for missing soldier involved over 1,000 personnel
A multinational search-and-rescue operation involving more than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civil personnel deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters, and drones to locate the two missing soldiers. The operation continued after African Lion 26 exercises ended on Friday.
Body of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. recovered in Morocco after week-long search
The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old Air Defense Artillery officer from Richmond, Virginia, were recovered by a Moroccan military search team on May 9 at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time along the shoreline near Cap Draa Training Area in Morocco, approximately one mile from where he went missing on May 2.
1st Lt. Key was participating in African Lion 26 military exercise
1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command and was participating in African Lion 26, a U.S.-led multinational military exercise launched in April across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal involving more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations.
1st Lt. Key commissioned as Air Defense Artillery officer in 2024
1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He joined his battalion in 2025 and had become a platoon leader by the time of his death.
Search ongoing for second missing US soldier in Morocco
The second U.S. soldier who went missing on May 2 near Cap Draa Training Area remains unaccounted for. Search efforts continue to focus on the location where 1st Lt. Key's remains were recovered while monitoring a broader perimeter.
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2 alternative perspectives
Air Defense Artillery Officer's Service Marked by Recognition and Duty
Recently commissioned Air Defense Artillery officer 1st Lt. Key participated in African Lion 26 exercise after earning military commendations.
Large-scale search operation recovers missing US soldier in Morocco
Large-scale Morocco search recovers missing US soldier; second soldier still sought.