Brainstorming. Researching. Many different techniques :)
Answer:
Before the Pentagon signed a 2013 order allowing women to serve in all ground-combat military positions, women in combat zones could only fill support positions.
Among the options above, the word that best defines the italicized word despotic is AUTHORITARIAN. Despotic means tyrannical and exercising power, enforcing strict obedience. Authoritarian also means enforcing strict obedience to the authorities in the government at the expense of personal freedom. I hope this helps.