VSE Corporation Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Business Segments and Customer Information, Major Customers (Details)

Business Segments and Customer Information, Major Customers (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	$ 424,071us-gaap_Revenues	$ 471,638us-gaap_Revenues	$ 546,755us-gaap_Revenues
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	100.00%vsec_PercentageOfRevenueByCustomer	100.00%vsec_PercentageOfRevenueByCustomer	100.00%vsec_PercentageOfRevenueByCustomer
U.S. Navy [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	88,007	123,307	120,867
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	20.70%	26.10%	22.10%
U.S. Army/Army Reserve [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	101,714	101,736	182,412
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	24.00%	21.60%	33.40%
U.S. Air Force [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	3,323	3,625	6,963
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	0.80%	0.80%	1.30%
Total Department of Defense [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	193,044	228,668	310,242
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	45.50%	48.50%	56.80%
U.S. Postal Service [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	167,268	142,203	130,866
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	39.40%	30.10%	23.90%
Department of U.S. Treasury [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	10,897	35,929	20,898
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	2.60%	7.60%	3.80%
Department of Energy [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	19,000	20,124	33,369
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	4.50%	4.30%	6.10%
Department of Interior [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	1,431	1,545	16,884
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	0.30%	0.30%	3.10%
Other government [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	28,751	40,919	32,231
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	6.80%	8.70%	5.90%
Total Federal civilian agencies [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	227,347	240,720	234,248
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	53.60%	51.00%	42.80%
Commercial [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Revenue, by customer	$ 3,680	$ 2,250	$ 2,265
Percentage of revenue by customer (in dollars per share)	0.90%	0.50%	0.40%