In what year did the Secretary of Defense lift the ban allowing women into combat roles?

The correct answer is 1993 because that is the year when the Secretary of Defense officially lifted the ban on women serving in combat roles in the U.S. armed forces. This policy change was part of a broader movement towards gender equality in the military, allowing women to take on a wider range of positions, including those that involved direct combat. The decision represented a significant shift in military policy, reflecting the changing societal norms regarding gender and the capabilities of women in service. Prior to this change, women were largely restricted to support roles, even though many had already been serving effectively in combat-related functions during various military operations.