Remains of 2nd U.S. soldier who went missing in Morocco have been recovered

"The remains of the second U.S. Army soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco have been recovered, the Army said Wednesday, ending a multinational search operation that deployed air, naval and artificial intelligence assets. The soldier was identified as Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington of Taveres, Fla., the U.S. military Europe and Africa said in a statement. She was 19 years old."

""Royal Moroccan Armed Forces transported the Soldier's remains by a Moroccan helicopter to the morgue of Moulay El Hassan Military Hospital in Guelmim, Morocco," the statement said. Collington served as an air and missile defense crewmember and was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said."

"Collington entered the Regular Army's Delayed Entry Program in 2023 before beginning active-duty service in 2024. She completed Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, as a 14P air and missile defense crewmember. She reported to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, in Ansbach, Germany, in February 2025 and was promoted to specialist on May 1, 2026. Her awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon."

"The two soldiers fell off a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike in Morocco. Their remains are en route to the United States. A spokesperson for U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa told The Associated Press that the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. The two soldiers were reported missing May 2 after participating in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise held in Morocco."

Remains of a second U.S. Army soldier missing during military exercises in Morocco were recovered, ending a multinational search that used air, naval, and artificial intelligence assets. The soldier was identified as Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington of Taveres, Florida, age 19. Royal Moroccan Armed Forces transported her remains by helicopter to the morgue of Moulay El Hassan Military Hospital in Guelmim, Morocco. She served as an air and missile defense crewmember assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. She entered the Delayed Entry Program in 2023, began active duty in 2024, trained at Fort Sill, reported to Ansbach, Germany in February 2025, and was promoted to specialist on May 1, 2026. Her awards included the Army Service Ribbon. Another soldier’s remains were recovered earlier, and both incidents are under investigation.

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