Women and racial diversity are vital to the strength of the U.S. armed forces, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in an exclusive interview, as he prepares to exit the top military post after four years. “They do impact readiness. They make us better. They make us stronger,” Austin said of women serving in the military.

Pete Hegseth, a former Army National Guard major, is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to take over Austin’s post but his past comments about women in combat have raised concerns.