The Australian Navy is under fire after using one of its officers in a social media campaign promoting gender equality.

The ad features a photo of a naval officer with one of his fingernails painted pink in support of the 100 Days for Change campaign.

Some have described it as politically correct campaign and nothing to do with the navy.

Recently, the @Australian_Navy began taking part in the #100DaysForChange campaign.

To encourage gender equality and diversity in the workplace, personnel in Sydney painted their pinky fingernails pink as a visual indication of support. pic.twitter.com/AK9JqszdR6

— Defence Australia (@DeptDefence) July 28, 2018

RSL President James Brown tells Ben Fordham it “oversteps the mark”.

“[The Navy] had some issues with making sure women are treated fairly but signing on to a campaign that is about social activism, signing on to a campaign which is politically controversial is going too far and really does risk putting the Navy in the position where people might think it’s being politicised.

“It doesn’t sit right with me and I don’t think it sits right with a lot of people who have been in the defence force.

“The uniform needs to be above politics and it needs to be above the issues of the day.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview