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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NN76z1mQH4GSbKLWOQetKObHJl8huGNJ3YBuZKMYUbl9odtdibQoKrLKxm3ePdd6
 CoCX0TYqDWVbpyDRT+APgA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001262772-04-000001.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001262772-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105133124
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001262772-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAFOND JAMES F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001262772

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-03676
		FILM NUMBER:		04503249

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 CONSTITUTION AVENUE, N.W.
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20080

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VSE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000102752
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-ENGINEERING SERVICES [8711]
		IRS NUMBER:				540649263
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2550 HUNTINGTON AVE
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22303
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7039604600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2550 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
		CITY:			ALEXANDRIA
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22303

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VALUE ENGINEERING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19790612
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000102752</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VSE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>vsec</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001262772</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAFOND JAMES F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Purchase Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.82</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.05</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">187.50 shares become exercisable on each of January 1, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James F. Lafond</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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