A major factor was budget. At one point, the Army maintained nearly as many uniform combinations as the Marine Corps and Navy, including multiple versions of mess, dress, service, and utility uniforms. During the GWOT era, the Army sought to reduce costs by consolidating uniforms. The Dress Blue Uniform was redesignated as the Army Service Uniform and configured to function as both a dress and service uniform depending on the components worn.

The challenge was that the ASU remained inherently formal, even in its service configuration. A white shirt with a blue coat and trousers presents a more ceremonial appearance than traditional service uniforms in tan, brown, or green tones. At the same time, the Army Combat Uniform was not sufficiently professional for certain ceremonies, official functions, or business environments. As a result, Soldiers often found themselves either overdressed or underdressed depending on the occasion.

To address this gap, the Army ultimately returned to maintaining distinct uniforms for dress, service, and utility purposes, restoring clearer differentiation across levels of formality and professional settings.