Army Identifies Both Missing Soldiers from Morocco Training Incident

The U.S. Army has recovered the remains of Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, marking the second soldier identified following their disappearance during training in Morocco. The incident occurred on May 2 near Cap Draa Training Area in southwestern Morocco as part of African Lion 26 exercises. Both soldiers were hiking to oceanside cliffs after completing their training for the day when they fell into the ocean.

Collington, an air and missile defense crewmember assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, was found by Moroccan search and rescue teams on May 12, along with the recovery of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., who was identified earlier on May 9. Both soldiers were part of a group conducting training exercises in Morocco.

Lt. Col. Chris Couch, commander of 5th Battalion, expressed deep sorrow over their loss, describing Collington as a "bright light" and "treasured friend." He thanked U.S. personnel and Moroccan partners for their efforts in bringing the soldiers home. The incident highlights the challenges and risks associated with military training exercises abroad, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in search and rescue operations.