Body of soldier who went missing in Morocco during training exercise recovered, US Army says

The physique of an American soldier who went missing while in Morocco for an annual training exercise has been recovered, the US Army introduced on Sunday.

First Lieutenant Lamont Key Jr. was one of two US service members who disappeared simply over every week in the past in waters off Morocco’s southern coast, close to the Cap Draa Training Area, the Army said in a news release.

Army officers stated search operations for the second serviceman, who has not been recognized, will proceed. Search efforts to date have concerned greater than 1,000 US and Moroccan army and civil personnel, based on the Army.

Both service members had been collaborating in African Lion, an annual training exercise, though protection officers beforehand informed CBS News that the incident was not believed to be associated to the occasion. A preliminary report stated the 2 had been half of a bunch of service members who went on a hike to look at the sundown when a soldier recognized to not be capable of swim fell into the water. Defense officers stated the second missing soldier jumped in to attempt a rescuehowever it was hit by a wave. Other troopers tried to rescue the 2, however had been unsuccessful.

Key’s physique was recovered by a Moroccan army search group at about 8:55 am Saturday morning native time, the US Army stated. He was discovered alongside the shoreline, a few mile from the place each troopers vanished into the ocean on May 2, based on the military. It’s not clear if Key was the soldier who fell or the one who reportedly jumped in.

Army officers stated ongoing search efforts will concentrate on the placement the place Key’s stays had been recovered, whereas nonetheless monitoring a broader perimeter.

Key, 27, was from Richmond, Virginia, based on the Army. He served as an air protection artillery officer with the tenth Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

Key “embodied the highest standards of service as a selfless, inspirational leader whose unwavering dedication to his Soldiers and their development leaves an enduring legacy within our ranks,” stated Lt. Col. Chris Couch, commander of 5-4 ADAR, in the assertion.

He is survived by his mother and father, his sister and his brother-in-law, based on the Army. His next-of-kin had been notified previous to the announcement. His stays had been transported to an space morgue, and plans are underway to repatriate them from Morocco to the US

Brigadier Gen. Curtis King, commanding common of the tenth Army Air and Missile Defense Command, stated in a press release that Key’s colleagues had been “grieving” and would “continue to support one another” in addition to the soldier’s household, “as we honor his life and service.”

Key joined his battalion in 2025 and had develop into a platoon chief by the point he died, the Army stated. He was described as caring, selfless and inspirational by management in his artillery regiment, and had earned numerous awards for his service, together with the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

Before becoming a member of the army in 2023, Key acquired a Bachelor of Science in advertising from Methodist University in North Carolina, the place he additionally accomplished minors in worldwide enterprise, entrepreneurship and enterprise administration, the Army stated.