Fort Leavenworth ? Fort Leavenworth doesn’t have unlimited land available to train its personnel in target practice.

Now, thanks to completion of a 1,200-square-foot building, soldiers will have ample room to train.

Known as the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000, the new building allows several soldiers to “fire” at a screen simultaneously.

The simulation program is connected through laser sensors. The training exercise even can be replayed to evaluate accuracy.

The new facility officially opened on Friday.

“While it doesn’t replace live training, in some respects it is better,” said Army Col. Wayne Green, garrison commander at the fort. “It’s certainly more cost-efficient. It certainly, from an availability standpoint on a post that doesn’t have a lot of acres for live fire, this is an irreplaceable capability.”

Previously, soldiers would travel to Fort Riley for firing training, about a three-hour drive.

It’s still essential to train with live ammunition, Green said, but the EST 2000 gives soldiers more opportunities to improve proficiency.

The simulation offers training through individual marksmanship, small-unit gunnery and tactical training. And it provides practice in making important judgments — when to shoot and not shoot.

Weaponry available are pistols, rifles, carbines, grenade launchers and shotgun simulators.

Heavy machine gun simulators also are available.

The facility is available for any National Guard or Army Reserve units and Military Police, which Green hopes will attract other military personnel to Fort Leavenworth as well.

He also plans to work with local police departments and the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s office in using the facility.