Techniques are described herein to transmit beam refinement reference signals and control information in a control symbol. The beam refinement reference signals may occupy frequency resources different from those occupied by the control information. During a beam refinement procedure, a transmitting entity may generate a plurality of directional beams. Multiple beam refinement reference signals may be generated for a single directional beam. Beam refinement reference signals for each directional beam may be distributed throughout various frequency resources of the control symbol. A receiving entity may measure at least one parameter of the beam refinement reference signals and select a preferred beam refinement reference signal. The transmitting entity may adjust characteristics of a current directional beam of a communication link between the transmitting entity and the receiving entity based on the preferred beam refinement reference signal.