<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238898</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAMERLY MICHAEL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>VSE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2550 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALEXANDRIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22303</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.05 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1826</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4628</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael E. Hamerly by Thomas M. Kiernan, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-03-25
0
0000102752
VSE CORP
VSEC
0001238898
HAMERLY MICHAEL E
VSE CORPORATION
2550 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22303
0
1
0
0
Executive Vice President
Common Stock, par value $0.05 per share
2010-03-25
4
S
0
1826
45
D
4628
D
Michael E. Hamerly by Thomas M. Kiernan, Attorney-in-Fact
2010-03-26