WASHINGTON — Army officials will allow more former soldiers a chance to return to active duty under the retiree recall program in an effort to close gaps in hard-to-fill specialties, service officials announced this week.

In an Army-wide message, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli said restrictions put on the program in March will be rolled back, at least temporarily, “due to the recent approval of a temporary increase in active component end strength.”

The program allows soldiers with 20 years of service to reapply in certain high-demand specialties, such as physicians, linguists and chaplains.

Since it began in 2001, nearly 3,000 veterans have passed through the program, and nearly 750 have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. More than 1,000 are currently in the service.

In March, as the Army reached its active-duty end-strength goals, officials announced plans to scale back the program, ending the opportunity for new re-enlistments for most retirees.

But last month Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced plans to increase the Army’s active-duty end strength by about 22,000 for the next three years, citing shortfalls in individual units’ manpower and staffing.

The change in policy will allow current retirees on duty through the program to apply for a one-year extension at the end of their current tour. It will also open spots for new applicants. Retirees up to 70 years old can apply for a one-year tour, with the chance of renewal, through the program.

However, the service still will not allow accompanied tours for retirees recalled under the program.

Neither the March changes nor the recent adjustments affect reservists who re-entered the service under the program.

Chiarelli’s message said priority for the programs will continue to remain “overseas contingency operational requirements and critical specialties.”

To apply, eligible retirees must contact Army Human Resources Command, www.hrc.army.mil.