> (The military is heavily into the word "Joint". I cannot possibly speculate as to why.)
Joint refers to a multibranch organization. The Joint Forces Cyber Command, for example, doesn't belong to a specific branch, but employs multiple branches. The commander can be Air, Army, Navy, or Marine. When any two branches work together it becomes joint.
I do understand that the Marine Corps was created because the Navy wasn't having a whole lot of luck with attacking the Barbary Pirates on land, so the Navy delivered the Marines to Tunisia or Morocco or what have you then the Marines dealt with the pirates after going ashore in a Ground Effect Vehicle.
I have only been aboard just one of my father's boats, the USS Springfield in Gaeta, Italy in 1970 and '71. I clearly remember this huge battleship but when I visited in 1997 what I expect was the same kind of ship looked more like a canoe.
I think the Springfield was either a Light Cruiser or a Missile Cruiser but Dad never made a whole lot of sense when he tried to explain things verbally.
Anyway I don't recall ever seeing any Marines there in Gaeta.
I do understand that in These Modern Times the United States Marine Corps jets around aboard Virgin Air.
I imagine Marines will be deployed at least on Naval vessels with combat or combat support missions. I imagine Marines fly missions from aircraft carriers alongside Navy pilots, albeit fewer. And, land-based research or other commands (like the previous poster had mentioned) will still have Marines -- it's more than just a large infantry unit.
Joint refers to a multibranch organization. The Joint Forces Cyber Command, for example, doesn't belong to a specific branch, but employs multiple branches. The commander can be Air, Army, Navy, or Marine. When any two branches work together it becomes joint.