The remains of a 27-year-old U.S. soldier who went missing during off-duty hours at a multinational military exercise in Morocco were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, while search efforts continue for a second missing service member, highlighting the risks faced by military personnel even during routine training deployments.
A Moroccan military search team found 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9, within roughly one mile of where both soldiers reportedly entered the ocean, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a statement. Key, a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, was one of two U.S. soldiers who fell off a cliff during a recreational hike in Morocco while off duty.
Massive Search Operation Deployed
The two soldiers were reported missing 8 days ago after participating in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise held in Morocco. Their disappearance triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and other military partners. The operation deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones to locate the missing service members.
The soldiers went missing around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, a terrain characterized by mountains, desert and semidesert plains, according to the Moroccan military. Search efforts were to continue for the missing second soldier, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The official said a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the war games ended Friday to provide command and control and to continue search and rescue operations.
A Young Officer's Service
Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, the army said. His decorations include the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon. He 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, according to the statement.
History of Training Risks
African Lion 26 is a U.S.-led exercise launched this year across four countries—Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal—with more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations. Since 2004, it has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa. The exercise is not without precedent for tragedy: 14 years ago, two U.S. Marines were killed and two others injured during a helicopter crash in Morocco's southern city of Agadir while taking part in the exercises.
Why This Matters:
The death of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. and the ongoing search for a second missing soldier underscore the human costs of military service that extend beyond combat operations. Young service members deployed for training exercises face environmental hazards and safety risks that require robust institutional protections and emergency response capabilities. Key, who earned his commission just two years ago, represents the thousands of junior officers and enlisted personnel who serve in multinational training operations with limited public visibility. The massive search operation—involving more than 600 personnel and significant resources—demonstrates the institutional commitment to recovering missing service members, yet questions remain about safety protocols for off-duty recreational activities in challenging terrain. The 2012 helicopter crash that killed two Marines during the same exercise series highlights a pattern of training-related casualties that demands ongoing scrutiny of safety standards and risk management in military exercises abroad.