The U.S. Army has confirmed the recovery of the remains of Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, a 19-year-old soldier from Taveres, Florida, who went missing during military exercises in Morocco. Collington, an air and missile defense crew member, was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and began active-duty service in 2024.
Recovery Operation
Her remains were transported by a Moroccan helicopter to a military hospital, concluding a multinational search operation that deployed extensive air, naval, and artificial intelligence assets. Collington and 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., whose remains were recovered previously, fell off a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike in Morocco and were reported missing on May 2.
Context of the Incident
The incident occurred during African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise involving over 7,000 personnel from more than 30 nations. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are still under investigation.
