Well I'm having exactly the same problem with the binocs Goober, but it may have something to do with their setBehaviour.
I used 'unit playMove "EffectStandSitDown" (or whatever it is), and the unit sat down and then stood back up again. He was setBehaviour "AWARE", but I changed him to "SAFE".
I'm thinking the problem is similar with the binocs, (I am trying to get a dude to do it using LyingToBinocsLying). I think also that if you give a unit an anim to play or switch to, he's naturally going to revert to what his normal behaviour is set to, whether that be setBehaviour, setCombatMode or something else that you need to change im not sure.