Army recovers second soldier missing in Morocco training exercise

The Army has recovered the remains of Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, of Tavares, Florida, from a coastal cave in southern Morocco, ending an 11-day search that began after she and another soldier disappeared near the Cap Draa Training Area close to Tan Tan. Collington served as an air and missile defense crewmember with Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

Officials said the second soldier was found May 12 about 500 meters from the spot where both service members reportedly entered the ocean. The Army said the rough coastal terrain, difficult cave access and challenging ocean conditions slowed the recovery effort. The first soldier recovered was identified as 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr.

The search drew more than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civil personnel and covered more than 21,300 square kilometers across sea and littoral zones. Search teams used unmanned aerial systems, rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, surface vessels, dive teams, mountaineering teams and ground search elements as they worked through the operation with local authorities and U.S. forces.

The missing soldiers were part of African Lion 26, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise, which ran from April 20 to May 8 across Morocco and other African partner nations. AFRICOM said the two were reported missing on May 2, and coordinated search and rescue operations began immediately with U.S., Moroccan and other assets. The exercise brought together more than 30 nations and about 4,500 participants.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Curtis King called Collington’s death a “profound loss” for the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. Gen. Christopher Donahue thanked the Moroccan government, sister services and allies for their “extraordinary support” during the search and said the family-care mission would continue. The Army said the remains would be repatriated to the United States as the investigation continues into how the soldiers disappeared during the training mission.