Remembering Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington: Recovered Soldier from Morocco Military Exercise
The U.S. Army has confirmed the recovery of the remains of Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, the second soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco. Collington, a 19-year-old air and missile defense crewmember from Taveres, Fla., was identified by the U.S. military Europe and Africa. Her remains were transported to a military hospital in Guelmim, Morocco, by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.
Collington joined the Regular Army's Delayed Entry Program in 2023 and began active-duty service in 2024. She completed her training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Ansbach, Germany. She was promoted to specialist in May 2026 and received the Army Service Ribbon.
The recovery of Collington's remains follows the recent discovery of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr.'s remains, who also went missing during the same incident. The soldiers fell off a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike in Morocco. The circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation.
The search operation involved over 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civilian personnel and utilized various assets, including air, naval, and artificial intelligence resources. The soldiers' remains are being transported back to the United States. The incident occurred during the African Lion multinational military exercise, which involves thousands of personnel from over 30 nations across four countries in Africa.
African Lion 26, the annual exercise, has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa since 2004. The tragic incident in Morocco highlights the risks associated with military training exercises in foreign countries. The U.S. Army continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the soldiers' deaths and remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its personnel.