Category: Security

Source: United States Army

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas — Members of the community gathered for fellowship and a meal provided by the Religious Support Office as they listened to remarks about forgiveness from an acquitted man who served 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit during the National Prayer Luncheon May 7, 2026, at the Frontier Conference Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Event narrator Chaplain (Maj.) Chris Weinrich, Garrison operations chaplain, explained that the annual National Day of Prayer, designated by Congress, is “intended to be a forum where leaders gather to build relationships and recognize the roles of religious faith, religious diversity and religious freedom in our country,” as he gave a history of the observance.

“From the earliest battles of the war of Independence to our current operations, prayer has played a vital role in the life of our American service members and families,” Weinrich said. “The United States, the American military have demonstrated a unique commitment that values religious freedom and spiritual choice as proclaimed in our founding documents. The Army Chaplain Corps, who pray before us today, represent various faith groups and traditions drawn from within the pluralistic religious fabric of America, and they demonstrate the values of religious freedom and choice.”

Chaplain (Maj.) Carlos Molina, force integrator, Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate chaplain, delivered prayers for the nation; Chaplain (Maj.) Joshua Portwood, Family Life chaplain, said prayers for the military and families; and Master Sgt. George Butler, master religious affairs NCO at Mission Command Training Program, read scripture passages.

During the invocation, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jared Vineyard, deputy command chaplain for the Combined Arms Command and staff ethicist for the Center for Army Leadership, thanked God for blessings, including guest speaker Darryl Burton’s “story of faith and perseverance.”

“May we listen to what he has to share with fresh ears, and may we always be people concerned with justice and truth,” Vineyard prayed.

Story of hope and forgiveness

As he introduced Burton, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Eric Bryan, Garrison chaplain, said prayer is not just speaking but is, for him, 90 percent listening.

“I pray that as you listen to this man today that God will speak to you personally,” Bryan said.

Burton co-founded Miracle of Innocence, an organization that provides legal help for innocent people who have been incarcerated and then provisions when they are released, when he discovered upon his release from prison that there were no resources for the innocent, only the guilty, upon their reintroduction to society. Burton was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1984 and spent nearly 25 years in prison before he was exonerated in 2008.

Burton said stories are shared through the generations for encouragement, motivation and inspiration, and the message he wanted to share with the audience was one of hope and forgiveness.

He said that the story told about him in 1984, though, was the wrong story.

“It was a narrative that was given to a jury of my peers, 12 people. And they got it wrong because someone persuaded them about a story that was false. And sometimes these false stories can be weaved into the community and mislead people.”

Despite witness accounts of a short, light-skinned man committing the crime, the fact that that other person of interest had shot the victim on three previous occasions, Burton was convicted of the crime, having had only one hour with his defender and arguing that pertinent information had been kept from the jury. Other “witnesses,” whom he said were motivated to lie with plea deals, testified under oath that Burton was guilty.

“I didn’t believe in God at the time — (I was) never angry at God, I never blamed God for my situation, on any level,” he said. “I wasn’t going to blame God for something I didn’t believe or blame something that happened to me to something I don’t believe in, that didn’t make sense to me.”

Burton said he had to deal with situation on the human level since he didn’t yet have a relationship with God.

“Human beings can hurt people, they can kill people, they can rob people, they can do horrible things. But human beings can, on the flip side, do great things — they can heal people, they can help people, they can serve people, they can go into the community and bless people. Human beings have this duality of complex personalities. We can do these (good) things, and we do. But human beings can also send people to prison for things they didn’t do.”

Burton said his heart was in a vice-grip of anger and bitterness. When he was sentenced to essentially 75 years in prison, he was a new dad with a 7-month-old daughter.

“I saw my daughter three times, and the next time I saw my little girl, she was 25 years old… After she lost me, she lost her mom, ended up in foster care, and said, ‘Dad, I want to leave it like that… I didn’t have you and my mom in my life then, and I don’t want you in my life now,’ and that hurts.”

Burton described his wrongful conviction as creating “multiple prisons” by the way it has affected his family and his daughter.

“That’s the one regret of all the things that happened to me, that’s more what I regret more than anything.”

Burton described some of the violence and horrors he witnessed and experienced when he was in the Missouri State Penitentiary, including the screams of other inmates being assaulted, and the plight of another wrongfully imprisoned young man who was attacked every day, who ended up being released shortly after him when he was also found to be innocent.

“I didn’t know his story, I didn’t know his case; he didn’t know mine, but we were both innocent men. But that’s what happens in that place, because, when you hurt a woman or a child, they don’t care if you’re innocent or not — they’re going to attack you.”

Burton said he started a letter-writing campaign when the courts were no use.

“I began to write letters, hundreds and hundreds of letters to the United States, to Canada, to Europe. I wrote letters to everybody I could think of — parliaments, presidents, governors, senators. I wrote Oprah Winfrey … I even wrote a letter to this guy named Jesus Christ. Didn’t believe in it, didn’t think it was real, and it wasn’t a prayer or a plea, it was a challenge for me.”

Through a series of what he called signs, someone encouraging him to read the Bible and consider the good things God has done and not just the bad, and learning about Jesus’ teachings to love one’s enemy and pray for them, Burton still pushed back, but his faith also began to evolve.

“One verse in the Bible changed my heart, one verse — Luke 23:34, when Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ That was the verse that pierced my heart. That wasn’t human to me. I said, that’s divine. How could this guy do that? They are killing him, and he’s innocent. And I was innocent, and I didn’t understand that.”

Burton said he continued to be filled with rage and hate until he admitted forgiveness was too difficult.

“So, I look back at that verse, and I notice that Jesus, in his humanness, in his humanity, he couldn’t forgive them either, and that’s why he said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ Forgiveness can only come from God through us if we let God use us to forgive those who we hate and who hate and harm us.”

Burton said that realization gave him peace, whether he was free or not.

Ultimately, Burton’s dark skin, which he said he had always been self-conscious about as the darkest of his eight siblings, would help exonerate him when the witness, who had tried to tell officials in 1984 that they had the wrong man, was finally heard.

Since its founding, Burton said Miracle of Innocence has helped several innocent people be released from prison.

“I said, ‘God, you’ve blessed me to save my life through that place before I even believed in you.’ And so now, we can just try to do something, give something back. And that’s part of my legacy, part of my story.”

To learn more about Miracle of Innocence, visit www.miracleofinnocence.org.

Source: United States Army

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas — Outgoing Army Corrections Command Command Sgt. Maj. Shawn Klosterman relinquished responsibility to incoming ACC Command Sgt. Maj. Cameron Regur May 8, 2026, in Eisenhower Auditorium at the Lewis and Clark Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The change of responsibility ceremony was followed by awards and Klosterman’s retirement, celebrating his more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Army and recognizing the contributions of his wife, Tametra, and their children.

Ceremony host Brig. Gen. Sarah Albrycht, Army provost marshal and commanding general of ACC, described the mission of ACC.

“The model of Army Corrections Command is vanguards of justice, and our people are true vanguards, foremost leaders of professionalism and dignity and justice. Our NCOs and soldiers contribute not just to good order and discipline, but to the potential for rehabilitation and the ultimate strength of our Army. It is a complex and demanding mission, executed daily with quiet expertise, and I could not be prouder of the soldiers and civilians represented in this command,” she said. “For the past several years, this command has been guided by the steady hand and unwavering leadership of Command Sergeant Major Shawn Klosterman.”

Albrycht told Klosterman that his career has been the epitome of servant leadership as he has shown commitment to soldiers’ welfare and the standards of the profession while serving in several roles.

“You’ve been a driving force for excellence, a trusted advisor and a mentor for countless NCOs and officers. Your leadership has been instrumental in navigating and helping me navigate the complexities of our mission, both here at Leavenworth and across the enterprise,” Albrycht said.

Albrycht welcomed Regur, whose most recent assignment was as command senior enlisted leader for Joint Task Force Guantanamo, and said she was confident he will guide ACC with the same dedication and excellence that have defined his career.

“Sergeant Major Regur, you have an exceptional reputation for developing soldiers and for upholding the highest standards of our profession,” she said. “Your diverse background and wealth of expertise make you the ideal leader to build upon the successes of this command.”

Regur addressed Albrycht, and then the audience, in his remarks, noting that he was exited to serve in this new role.

“Thank you for having the trust and confidence in me to serve as the command sergeant major for Army Corrections Command,” he said. “To everyone here, I am honored and humbled to be afforded this opportunity. I am extremely proud to serve alongside all the men and women of Army Corrections Command and to be part of this great organization. Thank you to every one of you for everything you do for this organization. You have my never-ending gratitude and appreciation for your sacrifices in support of our soldiers, our Army, and our nation. Without you, we can’t do what we do to make our military the premier fighting force in the world.”

Awards, retirement

Following the change of responsibility, Albrycht recognized the Klostermans with accolades and awards, including the Patriotic Public Service Award for Tametra and the Legion of Merit for Klosterman. Albrycht described Tametra as having a heart of service and Klosterman as a mentor who “shows up.”

“These last 30 years — as we look across the Army — haven’t necessarily been our easiest, right? And so those of us that have been around for all those years know that the Army’s been through a lot. And when the Army goes through a lot, guess what? Our people and our families go through a lot, too, so I just want to start by saying thank you to the family,” Albrycht said.

Retired Col. Timothy MacDonald, former commander of the 18th Military Police Brigade where Klosterman also served in Germany, delivered a personal address to family on Klosterman’s behalf before Klosterman gave his own retirement ceremony remarks. Before reading Klosterman’s prepared sentiments to his family, MacDonald recalled what it was like to get to know Klosterman and what he gained from working with him.

“He taught me to not let things I can’t control, control me. He taught me that there are always two sides to a story, even when I was pretty sure there was only one. And most importantly, he taught me how to be a brigade commander — and I’m serious about that; it’s not a small thing,” MacDonald said. “Because what Shawn really did every single day was make sure I was better than I would have been without him… I truly could not have asked for a better battle buddy, and I will forever be grateful for your leadership, your honesty, and your friendship.”

During his remarks, Klosterman told those assembled that they share a bond of trust, respect and genuine care, and stressed that leadership is about taking care of people.

“Standing on the verge of retirement, 27 years of those spent alongside the finest men and women of the Military Police Corps, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for a lifetime of memories,” Klosterman said. “Looking back, it feels just like yesterday — I was a wide-eyed private, eager for the kind of leadership I hoped to embody one day, but more than that, there was a journey fueled by deep love of service and, most importantly, a profound love for people. From the very beginning, I realized that this profession isn’t just about uniforms, ranks, or mission — it’s about people, the soldiers, the leaders who make up this Army what it is.”

Klosterman detailed some of the contributions he was proud of and passed on some advice from his years of experience.

“Throughout my career, I’ve learned that leading from a position of love is far more effective than leading from a position of fear. Yelling is overrated. Positive motivation, praise and encouragement is key. Care versus scare is a big difference,” he said. “Every program we built, every challenge we faced, every success that we celebrated, it was always about making life better for soldiers, helping them grow, supporting them through transitions and ensuring no one ever felt alone.”

Klosterman said the soldiers are what he loves most about the Army, and the one thing that he is most proud of is that he never lost a soldier.

“The men and women who stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of this nation are the reason I wore this uniform with pride every single day. And if there was one thing I hated about the Army, it was the enemy — those who sought to harm our nation in our way of life — but serving and fighting alongside my fellow comrades transformed that hate into an even stronger desire to do my absolute best, pour my heart and soul into defending the freedoms we hold dear.”

Klosterman said the Army taught him the value of service, the importance of leadership, the true meaning of camaraderie, and that he isn’t perfect.

“I believe that being a good soldier, leader, father, husband and a good human being means being humble enough to amend those mistakes, to expose your weaknesses, because doing so, we’re not only defining ourselves, we are shaping the ones around us, those who mean the most to us.”

Klosterman concluded his retirement ceremony with a rap performance, a skill and passion mentioned multiple times during the ceremonies.

Source: United States Army

USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany – Crowds of jobseekers, school children and other community members gathered to meet employment, civic organization and government representatives about careers and volunteering.

The community convened for Army Community Service’s annual Career and Volunteer Fair May 14, 2026 at the Hohenfels Community Activity Center, a networking event to bring employers and other organizations into contact with those who might work with them in the future.

“True readiness is rooted in the stability and fulfillment of the people who call USAG Bavaria – Hohenfels home,” said Angela Lane, deputy garrison manager for the Hohenfels community, during opening remarks. “Today’s fair is more than just a networking event; it is a bridge. It connects the incredible talent within our community to the organizations that need it most.

“Whether you are an employer looking for the unique discipline of a military spouse,” Lane continued, “or a volunteer agency seeking the heart of a servant leader, you are in the right place.”

Denise Hughes, the Employment Readiness Program manager, organized the event.

“The goal of this is to bring the community together,” said Hughes. “It’s great for making those connections and networking. We have military spouses who have maybe just arrived, and they’re not familiar with what’s out there. So this is a great way to get that exposure and land a career.”

Representatives from ACS were on hand to assist community members with their resumes and to answer career advice. Representatives from the Transition Assistance Program spoke to Soldiers to provide them insight into what their post-military careers could offer them. Members of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Viper team took professional headshots for jobhunters entering the market.

Also new this year, students from the Hohenfels Middle / High School visited the fair to learn the process of gaining employment post-schooling.

Soldiers and their Family members turned out to the event to learn and to make contacts.

Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Williams, a Soldier with the JMRC, had turned in his retirement paperwork the day before, and was at the career and volunteer fair to survey the job market and to educate himself, to “figure out what I want to do when I become an adult.”

“Everyone here is receptive and informative,” Williams said. “This is just an opportunity to expand your picture of opportunities outside the military.”

There were also several organizations who offered community members volunteer opportunities, including the American Red Cross – Hohenfels and the Hohenfels Community and Spouses Club.

“We always stress volunteerism,” said Hughes of these organizations. “That is kind of a gateway to employment, especially here, just building that relationship, getting in, volunteering, and many of our volunteer organizations end up hiring those that volunteer with them because of that relationship they’ve built.”

Hughes added that volunteering can also help community members gain valuable skills that will aid them in succeeding in their future careers.

Army Community Service for U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria is scheduled another career and volunteer fair in the autumn at Rose Barracks.

Locally, ACS holds a resume lab (its next iteration is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 29 at the ACS building). Online, community members can sign up for a federal resume writing workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 21.

To learn more about leveraging ACS’s career expertise, call 09472-708-4860 or DSN 522-4860, visit their web page here, or visit them at Bldg. 10A.

Source: United States Army

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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

AGADIR, Morocco — U.S. service members focused on advancing innovation to maintain battlefield superiority amid rapidly evolving threats and emerging technologies during African Lion 26.

As the largest multinational exercise in Africa, AL26 provided a multidomain training and experimentation environment where joint and combined forces integrated emerging technologies into real-world scenarios. The exercise emphasized interoperability, experimentation and readiness while aligning capabilities with African partner regional security priorities.

Exercise participants evaluated artificial intelligence-enabled and autonomous platforms, remote systems and other emerging technologies across attack, defense and mission command operations, contributing to cost-effective and adaptable warfighting solutions.

“Central to this effort is the evolution of the ‘Bumblebee’ counter-unmanned aerial system,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Derrick Guyton, an instructor with 7th Army Training Command who teaches small unmanned aerial systems. “The Bumblebee was designed as a compact, agile interceptor capable of neutralizing small unmanned aerial threats with an emphasis on portability and rapid deployment. This training and the operational feedback will improve current counter-UAS capabilities and inform future technological developments.”

AL26’s plan involved integrating emerging technology with structured, progressive training. U.S. Soldiers executed a deliberate progression from classroom instruction to hands-on application and mission-focused employment.

“We conducted a three-day training progression that included classroom instruction, hands-on training and a culminating exercise,” Guyton said. “The goal is to see U.S. Soldiers employ the system in a mission set, operate it effectively and recover equipment.”

He emphasized the platform’s versatility across multiple mission sets.

“It is a first-person-view capable system that can conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, strike and payload delivery,” Guyton said. “Operators can control multiple platforms from a single ground control station and execute simultaneous tasks.”

Guyton noted the system’s role in future operations.

“This capability extends the fight beyond forward lines, allowing forces to reach deeper into the battlefield while enabling maneuver elements to advance,” he said. “African Lion also strengthens partnerships and demonstrates our ability to train alongside allies in complex environments.”

For U.S. Soldiers training with the system, the experience directly contributed to readiness.

“This is our first time training with this capability as a unit,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Pedro Gallardo, a combat medic assigned to the 7th Engineer Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command. “It improves our ability to support mobility and counter-mobility operations while adapting to new technology.”

Joint Interagency Task Force 401 continues to drive the development and integration of counter-UAS capabilities supporting similar efforts. The organization emphasizes a layered defense approach, combining multiple systems and capabilities rather than relying on a single solution.

JIATF-401 is investing in training environments to ensure warfighters can effectively employ emerging technologies, using kinetic defeat options alongside enhanced air domain awareness through interoperable systems.

“Drones are the defining threat of our time,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401. “The proliferation of inexpensive unmanned aerial systems allows nonstate actors and individuals to access intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and precision strike tools in ways that were previously only available to state actors. This presents a direct and growing threat to our installations, our personnel, our mission, and our partners and allies. We must be proactive with creating a layered defense that includes kinetic defeat options at all of our facilities at home and abroad.”

The evaluation of systems like the Bumblebee during AL26 demonstrated how the U.S. Army is aligning innovation with training to enhance operational readiness. By leveraging multinational exercises as real-world experimentation platforms, U.S. forces validate emerging capabilities while strengthening partnerships and preparing for future threats.

About African Lion

African Lion 2026 is U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise, designed to strengthen collective security capabilities of the U.S., African nations and global allies. Co-led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) from April 20 to May 8, 2026, and hosted in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, AL26 involves over 5,600 personnel from more than 40 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security.

African Lion content can be found on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS).

About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS

Source: United States Army

MONROVIA, Liberia — As part of the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, the Michigan National Guard sent Airmen and Soldiers to Liberia to participate in a military-to-military engagement with the Armed Forces of Liberia.

During a weeklong exchange, May 4-8, 1st Lt. Spencer Lawson and Master Sgt. Cameron McArthur, both assigned to the 110th Force Support Squadron at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Michigan, collaborated with AFL mortuary affairs personnel at the 14 Military Hospital. The team exchanged ideas and discussed mortuary affairs capabilities while working alongside partner forces to revise formal standard operating procedures.

“This was a great opportunity to learn from our partner, better understand their culture, and improve our interoperability,” Lawson said. “This type of engagement reinforces the importance of dignity, honor and respect for fallen service members of both nations.”

A two-person team, consisting of a chaplain and a chaplain assistant, also returned to Liberia to engage with the newly formed AFL Chaplain Corps. Col. Brian Martinus and Master Sgt. Chad Hollopeter, from Michigan Joint Force Headquarters in Lansing, Michigan, conducted a subject-matter expert exchange with Liberian chaplains.

Discussions focused on the role of chaplains after a service member’s death, including casualty assistance, funeral preparation, military honors and the integration of chaplain support with mortuary affairs operations.

“As Liberian chaplains continue to develop their Chaplain Corps within the Armed Forces of Liberia, a structured exchange of ideas is critical to its successful establishment,” Martinus said. “The Michigan National Guard remains committed to supporting the AFL in achieving the three core tenets of chaplaincy: nurturing the living, caring for the wounded and honoring the dead.”

Capt. Andrew Layton, bilateral affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Liberia, emphasized the value of the engagement.

“The mortuary affairs specialists and the chaplain team complemented each other, creating a well-rounded engagement between the Michigan National Guard and the Armed Forces of Liberia,” Layton said. “This military-to-military exchange provided valuable insight to both forces and further strengthened our partnership.”

The Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program pairs U.S. states with partner nations to conduct cooperative, mutually beneficial engagements across military, security and civilian sectors. The program supports regional stability, enhances interoperability and builds enduring relationships between partner forces.

Related Links

The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil

State Partnership Program | NationalGuard.mil

The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Flickr | Flickr.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Instagram | Instagram.com/us.nationalguard

The National Guard on X | X.com/USNationalGuard

The National Guard on YouTube | YouTube.com/TheNationalGuard

Source: United States Army

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana Army National Guardsmen with the 113th Engineer Battalion are the latest service members within the Department of War to reap the benefits of the Innovative Readiness Training program.

Soldiers in the Gary-based unit are partnering with the City of Terre Haute to demolish a roughly 60,000-square-foot building on the city’s near north side — a real-world training opportunity for Soldiers who specialize in horizontal construction and operating heavy equipment such as excavators.

Through the Innovative Readiness Training program, or IRT, government entities and nonprofits across the country can coordinate directly with military units to complete real-world projects, such as providing medical services or constructing affordable housing. Since its inception in 1993, the program has supported hundreds of projects across the United States.

The Terre Haute mission gives Hoosier Soldiers two opportunities to conduct specialized training in an urban, civilian environment. In addition to the 113th Engineer Battalion’s work to demolish the former Boys & Girls Club to make way for more housing, the state’s 19th Chemical Enhanced Response Force Package, or CERFP, Battalion will use the structure for training in June. With expertise in advanced rescue and recovery missions, they will work alongside regional partners to recover hundreds of Flat Stanleys — paper stand-ins for victims — during a simulated building collapse.

Training in an active urban environment also gives Soldiers exposure to variables and conditions that are difficult to simulate in standard training exercises, helping sharpen their readiness for real-world missions at home and abroad. Though the opportunities provided through the IRT program are vast, demolition is a unique opportunity not just for the Indiana National Guard but for the entire U.S. military.

“It is the epitome of war fighter readiness,” said Indiana National Guard Capt. Brandyn Sims, project officer with the 19th CERFP. “Our guys are going to arrive at a building that they have never heard of and never seen before… And be told that there are victims trapped inside and they have to get them out during a 24 hour, non-stop operation.”

Sims helped organize the training opportunity through IRT, which requires a robust review process among federal, state and local governments to ensure that Soldiers involved gain strong experience and training value from the project and that all participating communities and organizations meet strict program eligibility and oversight requirements.

“This provides a great opportunity for my engineers to get training on the equipment in a way that we don’t typically get to use it,” said Indiana Army National Guard Lt. Col. Derek Sutton, commander of the 113th Engineer Battalion. “Demolition is not one of our normal missions, but it is one of our objectives so this helps us stay ready.”

For the 113th Engineer Battalion, demolition involved more than daily operations. Soldiers of all ranks gained experience in site preparation, traffic and pedestrian control, infrastructure evaluations and more. While many of the National Guardsmen bring years of experience from their civilian and military careers, some Soldiers are working with new concepts and equipment.

“I have particularly enjoyed getting to train my teammates out here,” said Sgt. Alexander Sovel, a Soldier in the 113th Engineer Battalion and one of the primary excavator operators on-site. “I love standing next to them and helping them learn and experience the same experience that I have. It has just been a great experience overall to help make this project move faster too.”

Indiana Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Hector Tinoco contributed to this story.

Related Links

The Official Website of the National Guard | NationalGuard.mil

State Partnership Program | NationalGuard.mil

The National Guard on Facebook | Facebook.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Flickr | Flickr.com/TheNationalGuard

The National Guard on Instagram | Instagram.com/us.nationalguard

The National Guard on X | X.com/USNationalGuard

The National Guard on YouTube | YouTube.com/TheNationalGuard

Innovative Readiness Training | defense.gov

Source: United States Army

TAN-TAN, Morocco — U.S. Air Force pararescuemen with the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, Moroccan military mountaineers, and Moroccan Civil Protection recovered the second of two U.S. Soldiers who went missing May 2, near the Cap Draa Training Area, during African Lion 26.

Search and rescue operations have concluded. With both Soldiers accounted for, the focus shifts to recovery and repatriation.

The combined recovery team located and retrieved the Soldier May 12 from a coastal cave roughly 500 meters from where both Soldiers reportedly entered the ocean. Challenging ocean conditions, coastal terrain and the cave’s accessibility complicated search and recovery operations throughout the effort.

The Soldier was identified as Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, of Taveres, Florida. Collington served as an air and missile defense crew member and was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

“The loss of Spc. Collington is a profound loss for the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command,” said Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. “Her recovery closes the search for our two missing Soldiers, but our commitment to caring for their Families, friends, and teammates continues. We are grateful to the U.S. and Moroccan forces for their professionalism and support throughout the search efforts.”

More than 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan military and civil personnel participated in the search, covering more than 21,300 square kilometers across sea and littoral zones. U.S. and Moroccan forces applied integrated air, land, sea and subsurface capabilities throughout the operation, including unmanned aerial systems, rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, surface vessels, dive teams, mountaineering teams and ground search elements. Search planners repositioned assets daily based on real-time drift analysis, weather predictions and each platform’s operational capabilities to focus efforts on the highest-probability areas.

“I can’t say enough about the extraordinary efforts of the Moroccan government, our sister services, and Allies,” said Gen. Christopher Donahue, Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe and Africa. “They were with us during a difficult time– tireless, determined, and compassionate – to aid in the search for our two missing Soldiers. Their commitment never wavered, and their willingness to do whatever it took to bring our Soldiers home to their families speaks volumes about the strength of our partnership and the character of those who serve.”

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, 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 May 1, 2026.

During her time with Charlie Battery, Collington was known for her character and impact across her battery.

“Spc. Collington was an outstanding Soldier whose unwavering enthusiasm and positive spirit uplifted every environment she entered,” said Capt. Spencer Grider, commander of Charlie Battery, 5-4 ADAR.“Her infectious energy, whether in the office, in the field or among her peers, fostered connection and camaraderie, bringing people together through her genuine warmth and heartfelt sense of humor. Her presence will be greatly missed a cross our formation.”

Collington’s leaders emphasized the unit’s continued support to her Family, friends, and fellow Soldiers.

“Spc. Collington was a bright light in this battalion. To the Soldiers who knew her best and served alongside her each day, she was a treasured friend whose loss leaves a deep and profound void on our team,” said Lt. Col. Chris Couch, the 5-4 ADAR battalion commander. “As we hold her Family, friends, and teammates in our prayers, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the U.S. personnel and Moroccan partners who dedicated themselves to bringing her home.”

Collington’s awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon.

The Soldier’s next of kin have been notified. No further family details will be released at this time.

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. On the evening of May 12, Moroccan and U.S. forces conducted a dignified carry at the military airport in Guelmim honoring both Soldiers. The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. and Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington departed Morocco aboard a U.S. Air Force C-130J and are enroute to the United States.

The incident remains under investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

For media inquiries, contact media@army.mil.