US soldier’s body recovered in Morocco after African Lion multinational exercise, second still missing

The body of a US soldier who went missing during a military exercise in Morocco has been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, while a search continues for a second missing service member, the U.S. military said Sunday.

Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, was found near the shoreline on May 9, about 1.5 kilometers from the area where he and another soldier were last seen during an off-duty hike near the Cap Draa training zone outside Tan-Tan in southern Morocco. 

The two had fallen from a cliff on May 2 while participating in the African Lion multinational exercise.

A large-scale search and rescue effort involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco, and other partner nations was launched following their disappearance. Aircraft, naval vessels, helicopters, and drones were deployed in the operation.

Key served in the Charlie Battery of the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, part of the U.S. Army’s 10th Air and Missile Defense Command. He joined the Army in 2023 and completed his air defense artillery officer training in 2024 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Authorities say efforts are ongoing to locate the second soldier, who remains missing. A U.S. contingent has stayed in Morocco following the conclusion of the African Lion 26 exercises to support the continued search.

The annual exercise, which began in April, involves more than 7,000 troops from over 30 countries and is conducted across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal.