The remains of a U.S. military officer who went missing during a training exercise in Morocco have been found in the Atlantic Ocean. Search operations are still ongoing for another soldier who is also missing, according to military sources.
Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, from Richmond, Virginia, was identified as the individual whose body was recovered on Saturday, as per an announcement from U.S. Army Europe and Africa on Sunday. He was an air defense artillery officer and one of two soldiers who reportedly fell off a cliff while hiking during their off-duty time near the Cap Draa training range on May 2.
A Moroccan military team located Key’s body around 8:55 a.m. local time on Saturday, about a mile from where both soldiers were last seen entering the water.
“Today, we mourn the loss of Lt. Kendrick Key, whose remains were found in Morocco,” commented Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commander of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and everyone who knew him. The entire 10th Command is grieving, and we will stand firm in our support for each other and for Lt. Key’s family as we honor his memory.”
Key, alongside another soldier, went missing on May 2 after they participated in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise held in Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal.
The Moroccan military reported the two soldiers missing around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa training area, which lies in a mountainous region bordering desert and semi-desert plains.
This incident triggered a major search and rescue operation, involving over 600 personnel from the U.S., Morocco, and other military allies. The operation included the deployment of ships, helicopters, and drones.
Efforts to locate the second missing soldier are ongoing.
U.S. troops remained in Morocco following the conclusion of the exercises, continuing to support the search and rescue missions.
Key was assigned to Charlie Company, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, part of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. His awards included the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Medal of Honor.
He joined the military as a cadet in 2023 and became an air defense artillery officer the following year, successfully completing the Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Key is survived by his parents, sister, and brother-in-law.
African Lion 26 is a U.S.-led military exercise that started in April and involved more than 5,600 personnel from over 40 countries across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal. This has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa for more than two decades.
A similar exercise in 2012 led to a tragic incident when an MV-22 Osprey crashed, resulting in the deaths of two U.S. Marines.
