Warren County has more than its share of veterans.
But it doesn't have its share of people who help veterans find work.
At Pennsylvania Careerlink Warren County, Randy Carlson, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, is on the job. But only on Wednesdays. Carlson, the local veterans employment representative, serves in Clarion County on Mondays and Venango County on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
"Mostly what I've been doing is trying to get them plugged into the right job," Carlson said. "We've got a lot of guys getting out and a lot of older guys. If I see something for them, I can make a connection."
There are jobs for veterans. Carlson mentioned Ellwood National as a local employer that is "super vet-friendly."
For other services - Veterans Retraining Assistance Program or veterans affairs benefits - Carlson directs veterans to the right sources, including Warren County Veterans Affairs Director Ed Burris.
Carlson is "picking up the pieces," but has more than he can handle.
"Somebody should be here all the time for these guys," Carlson said. "I could spend three days a week up here and still not be done with the work that's coming through the door."
Since Jeff Walters, another 24-year vet, left the post at Careerlink in March 2011, there has not been a full-time veterans representative there.
"I think it's a problem," Walters said. "The vets in Warren need somebody here. It's a spot that's supposed to be filled."
State Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-65th) is aware of the situation.
"I brought this up with Veterans Affairs people in Harrisburg," she said. "There have been some cuts."
With Carlson covering four counties - he serves Forest County veterans, too, but there is no office there - Warren isn't the only county in the northwest with a shortage of coverage. "I understand from my colleagues in Venango and Clarion counties that it's a concern there, too," Rapp said.
However, there could be dollars on the way.
"Recently, some federal money came down for staffing," Rapp said. "They are looking for people to staff these positions."
In the meantime, a veteran may go to any of the representatives at Careerlink, she said, but specialized services like preferential placements and disability issues would be best handled by a veterans representative.
Carlson said service-men and -women are being told to look to their "one-stop-shops" for veterans services. If they walk into Careerlink on one of the four days Carlson isn't there, they're going to need more than one stop.
Filling the position would be an immediate improvement for one veteran. "It's a veteran's job, or dependent widow," Carlson said.
A full-time representative "would be able to do more intensive services," Carlson said, "be able to carry a case load."
According to U.S. Census Bureau figures, there were 4,632 veterans in Warren County in 2010 out of a total population of about 41,800 - about 11 percent.
In Pennsylvania, for the same time period, there were about 1 million veterans in a population of about 12,700,000 - a little less than 8 percent.
The 22,650,000 Veterans made up about 7 percent of the U.S. population of about 308,750,000 in 2010.