The body of a U.S. Army officer who vanished during an off-duty hike in Morocco has been found, while search teams continue looking for a second missing soldier.
Military officials identified the recovered soldier as 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old Air Defense Artillery officer.
Search Teams Locate Remains Near Shoreline
According to U.S. Army Europe and Africa, a Moroccan military search team discovered Key’s body in the water along the shoreline at about 8:55 a.m. local time on May 9.
Officials said the location was roughly one mile from where both missing soldiers were believed to have entered the ocean.
Two Soldiers Vanished After Training Exercise
Key and another U.S. soldier were reported missing on May 2 after taking part in African Lion, a major multinational military exercise held in Morocco.
The soldiers were off duty and on a recreational hike when they reportedly fell from a cliff near the Cap Draa Training Area, outside Tan-Tan.
The region is known for difficult terrain, including mountains, desert areas and semidesert plains.
Large-Scale Rescue Operation Continues
Their disappearance triggered a major search-and-rescue effort involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and partner militaries.
The operation has included military vessels, frigates, helicopters and drones as teams searched both land and coastal areas.
A U.S. defense official said American personnel remained in Morocco after the exercise ended to support command operations and continue the search for the second soldier.
Who Was 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr.?
Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
He entered the Army in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission in 2024 through Officer Candidate School.
He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His military awards included the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
African Lion Exercise Draws Thousands
African Lion is a U.S.-led annual military exercise involving troops from multiple countries.
This year’s exercise took place across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal, bringing together more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations.
Since 2004, it has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa.
Impact and Consequences
Key’s death has turned a major international military exercise into a tragedy for the U.S. Army and his family.
The incident also highlights the risks service members can face even outside combat operations, particularly in remote and hazardous terrain.
For U.S. and Moroccan military authorities, the focus remains on recovering the second missing soldier and determining the exact circumstances of the fall.
What’s next?
Search-and-rescue teams will continue operations in Morocco for the second missing soldier.
Military officials are also expected to review the incident and provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Summary
The body of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old U.S. Army officer, has been found after he and another soldier disappeared during an off-duty hike in Morocco.
The second soldier remains missing as U.S., Moroccan and partner forces continue search operations.
Bulleted Takeaways:
- U.S. Army officer Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. was found dead in Morocco.
- He disappeared with another soldier during an off-duty hike near Tan-Tan.
- Both soldiers reportedly fell from a cliff near the Cap Draa Training Area.
- More than 600 personnel have joined the search operation.
- The second U.S. soldier remains missing.
- Key had recently been commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery officer.
- The soldiers had participated in the African Lion military exercise.