VTOL

The Marine Corps doesn’t intend for the aircraft to regularly takeoff vertically on operational missions. According to Lockheed Martin press release, “VTOs are required for repositioning of the STOVL in environments where a jet could not perform a short takeoff.  In these cases, the jet, with a limited amount of fuel, would execute a VTO to travel a short distance.”

And.... most important, it is another chance for a photo op to serve marketing.

Above all else.